Driftwood is wood that has fallen into and has remained in a water source such as a pond, stream, a river, the sea or ocean for a period of time long enough to change its properties. Sometimes the tree lays static in the same place throughout the process and sometimes it floats in the water moving from its place of entry to parts unknown. In either case the constant motion of the water acts as a sand paper on the wood creating a smooth, hardened texture and depending on the exposure to sun, an inhanced pitina. Drifting wood eventually washes up on shore or is exposed at low tide. Static wood is eventually exposed when water levels go down.

Below you can see various stages of driftwood. The stream is at a low stage. In the back ground, across the stream, there is a fallen tree and branches that appear to have been down awhile. When the river is running deep they would have been covered by the water. In the foreground there is a tree with a branch close to breaking of and falling into the stream. In front of the same tree there is a tree that is dead and will eventually fall, landing in the stream. Driftwood is a prized artistic resource for any nature artist fortunate enough to find it.