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| First, the Weather Report. |
It's time for a final report about the trees I followed this year. But they haven't changed since last month, and it's cold and wicked windy. I'd rather think about that nice October day when I met two trees and a rock on the trail to Lamoille Lake, in the Ruby Mountains in northeast Nevada.
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| Rock huggers. |
I imagined these gnarled old trees as seedlings emerging above ground in a protected spot next to the giant boulder. For years they grew taller from apical buds, and wider by adding new vascular tissue (plant nerds—see diagram further on). They were symmetrical saplings until they bumped into the rock. But they kept growing anyway, taller and wider ... except where they couldn't.
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Limber pines, Pinus flexilis (named for tough flexible branchlets).
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| Trees grow taller at the top, not from the base (a common misconception). |
This is my contribution to the monthly
gathering of Tree Followers kindly hosted by
The Squirrel Basket. Consider joining us for some low-key good times (
more here). Now I need to go find another tree!
It is fascinating to imagine trees through the years. At our previous location, we saw some of it happen since we planted several trees. Interesting location of your example here, with the trees growing around the boulder. Beautiful photos, too.
ReplyDeleteIt is fascinating how determined young trees are to always keep growing, no matter what obstacles they have to overcome. And the strange shapes this can result in.
ReplyDeleteIt's been cold and windy here in London recently.
ReplyDeleteGood, and interesting, pictures. xx
There's something absolutely fascinating about rock and trees growing together, and also those trees that grow so near park railings that eventually they swallow them.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, thanks for sharing them. And also the diagram (very pretty).
Fascinating - and I love the pictures, especially the colourful diagram. Thanks for your posts this year (and next?) xxx
ReplyDelete