Disney's Dreaming Tree - Clippings

American Forests, Autumn, 2002

Walt Disney's "Dreaming Tree" has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Trees by G. Kaye Malins of Marceline, Missouri. The towering cottonwood stands beside a small spring where young Walt and his sister Ruth played as children.

Disney spent hours in the tree's shade, looking into the high branches, sensing the animals, birds and bugs that inhabited the tall grass. He later called these adventures "belly botany" and drew from his childhood memories in his "Mickey Mouse" and "Silly Symphony" cartoons.

An official Disney logo depicts an image of young Walt holding Ruth's hand as they gaze at stars in the tree's limbs. On his trips back to Marceline, Disney always set aside time to revisit his private spot.

Direct offspring of the Dreaming Tree will be available at www.historic-trees.org in the spring of 2003.