A ghostly cottonwood at Summer Lake, Oregon
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A ghostly cottonwood: Monochrome Monday
Trees
Which tree’s bark?: Thursday Tree Love
Today I’m posting a few up close pictures of tree bark and more distant shots of trees. Can you tell which tree’s bark are shown in the first three photos? The answers are at the end of this post.
Bark A
Bark B
Bark C
Tree 1. Western Juniper, Juniperus occidentalis
Tree 2. Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa
Tree 3. Black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa
The answers are:
Bark A = Black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa
Bark B = Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa
Bark C = Western Juniper, Juniperus occidentalis
Did you guess which tree’s bark correctly?
There are so many kinds of bark in the world and they often make great subjects for close ups. Did you know there’s even a tag for bark? It includes tree bark, candy bark, dog barks, etc.
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Bonsai growing on a tree: Sunday Trees
When I walked past this, I did a double take. It looked like a bonsai growing on this tree near Withers Lake, Oregon.
I imagined some woodland elf climbing up the ponderosa pine’s trunk to tend to this little tree. They must have trimmed and shaped it over many years. Is it dead or just dormant? Hmmm… there must be more to this story.
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Sentinel standing watch: ST & OWS
I took this photo of the Sentinel standing watch in Sequoia National Park in California. This giant sequoia tree measures 257 feet tall and 25 feet in diameter, four feet above the base, making it the 43rd largest in the world and 26th largest in the Giant Forest. It’s estimated to be 2,175 years old.
The largest giant sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum, is located nearby. The General Sherman tree measures 272 feet in height and 25 feet in diameter, four feet above its base.
In photographs taken from this angle, it almost looks like it’s a sentinel standing watch on long reddish-brown legs.
The Sentinel tree is growing right next to the Giant Forest Museum. This museum is small, but nicely laid out and informative.
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A tree’s birth writing exercise: TTL
I wrote a 9-sentence short piece about a tree’s birth as part of a recent writing workshop. Author Pam Houston taught the More Than Human World online course.
In class, she gave us the following prompt. We had to complete it in about five minutes.
Nine Sentence Writing Exercise
Sentences 1-3 Describe a natural object’s birth. It can be an animal, plant, rock, etc.
Sentences 4-6 Describe what else is happening at the time of the object’s birth.
Sentences 7-9 Put the birth in an ancestral context.
A tree’s birth short story
Here is what I wrote…
A Tree is Born
By Siobhan Sullivan
I am emerging from the sand of the High Desert. The first thing I do is send a taproot down, seeking water. After that, I send a stem up, covered with sharp, scaly leaves on its branches. I feel the earth trembling beneath me. In the distance, I see dense clouds forming over a sharp peak. I smell a powerful scent, like rotting eggs. Above me, my great grandfather shifts his branches to shelter me from the ashfall. He has lived on this hilltop for 5,000 years. I am a juniper, grateful to be a part of his family and a part of this developing world.
Generative writing
When you do generative writing like this, you’re forced to think fast, sort of like an improv actor. I usually type everything I write on my desktop computer or other device. However, when I take writing classes with prompts, I often use longhand. Why, you may be asking. It uses a different, sometimes more creative, part of your brain. I can write and cross things out quicker in longhand.
Here’s a picture of the first draft I created in class. It includes a quick sketch of a tree. Yeah, it’s messy!
Is this short piece about a tree’s birth the best thing I’ve ever written? No, but I can see how something similar could be incorporated into some of my other writings.
I was inspired to create this piece by western junipers growing on my property in Bend, Oregon. I often use the tree in the first picture as my muse. Can you see why?
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The eyes of March: Thursday Tree Love
The eyes of March on aspen trees at Pine Nursery Park, Bend, Oregon.
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Garry oak near the Columbia: TTL
These Garry oak trees near the Columbia River caught my eye. The oaks were growing east of Mosier, Oregon along the Historic Columbia River Highway.
I’ve always liked how oak tree branches twist and turn. Garry oak, Quercus garryana, does not grow in a neat and tidy kind of way. This tree is also known as the Oregon white oak.
The deciduous leaves are darker green on the top side and finely haired underneath..
The distinctive lobed leaves turn brown in the fall.
These trees flowers in the spring and the acorns they produce ripen from August to November. The acorns are eaten by many wildlife species including, woodpeckers, doves, jays, chipmunks, squirrels, deer, and bear.
Center of the Universe: Wordless Wednesday
Chinese windmill palm: Thursday Tree Love
So, when you think of trees on the westside of Oregon you probably think of evergreens, right? However, trees associated with more tropical locations also grow there. This is a Chinese windmill palm, Trachycarpus fortunei, growing at the Oregon Garden in Silverton.
Windmill palms have been cultivated in China and Japan for thousands of years so their exact natural range is difficult to determine. This hardy palm has been planted throughout the world. The tough leaf fibers of the Chinese windmill palm have been used in making rope, sacks, and coarse cloth.
Wind palm trees reach a height of 10-40 feet. In southern China, these palms grow at elevations as high as 7,874 feet. They tolerate cold temperatures, wind, salt, and drought.
Maple leaves in the rain: Wordless Wednesday
Maple leaves in the rain at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, Portland, Oregon
Winter tree from 3 perspectives: TTL
These photographs show a winter tree near Bend, Oregon shown from 3 perspectives .
Western juniper trees are great to photograph. I show this one from a distance, looking up its trunk, and with a close up view of its rough and wrinkled bark. These trees’ unique characteristics are enhanced by a light snowfall.
Vine maple drawings: First Friday Art
Today I’m showing a few pen-and-ink vine maple drawings I created. Years ago, I took a Scientific Illustration course during spring quarter at the University of Washington.
The teacher had us take a cutting from a tree or shrub and place it into a glass of water. I clipped off a piece of vine maple, Acer circinatum, growing in my yard. Each week, we drew the twig using a different technique. The twigs leafed out a little more throughout the course. I thought it was one of the most clever teaching ideas I’d ever seen.
The first drawing shows a vine maple line drawing with varying weights of line. With certain nibs, if you press down the line becomes heavier. This is a view of blooms close up.
The second drawing shows the stipple technique. It takes a steady hand to do all those tiny dots of ink.
Sitka spruce at Fort Clatsop: TTL
We saw this large Sitka spruce, Picea sitchensis, tree at Fort Clatsop, Oregon. This is where the Lewis and Clark expedition spent a long, wet winter in 1806. Lewis noted how this tree was commonly 27 feet in girth, with some trees reaching 36 feet around. This tree’s height averages 125-180 feet, and may reach over 250 feet. Sitka spruce can live up to 800 years.
Indigenous people used parts of spruce trees in several ways. Roots and cedar bark were woven into baskets and hats. The pitch was used as a varnish, to waterproof canoes, and chewed like gum. Various parts were used to treat diarrhea, constipation, and back aches. Sitka spruce was thought to possess “mystical powers and provided protection against evil thoughts.”
The tree’s fine-grained wood is both strong and lightweight. It is used in turbine blades, aircraft, sailboats, racing sculls, and oars. its unique qualities also make it a favorite in making musical instruments, including guitars, harps, violins, pianos, and flutes created by Native Americans.
Monkey tree can’t pinch me!: TTL
“Monkey tree can’t pinch me!” I remember saying that as a kid every time we drove past one of these odd trees on the way to our grandparents’ house. We would try to be the first one to pinch our siblings before they could pinch us. Did anyone else play that game?
Monkey puzzle trees, Araucaria auracana, are native to Chile and Argentina but grow well in many parts of the world. In their native habitat, they grow to a height of 100-130 feet, but in gardens in North America mature at 30-40 feet.
Their common name originated in 1850 when Charles Austin, who was visiting a friend’s garden in England, remarked, “It would puzzle a monkey to climb that.” Those triangular leaves have sharp edges and tips!
Surrounded by green: Thursday Tree Love
A fall Japanese maple surrounded by green trees at the Oregon Garden in Silverton, Oregon. The red leaves of the maple are surrounded by cedar, pine, and spruce trees.
Black cottonwood up close: Macro Monday
This black cottonwood up close picture was taken at Malheur NWR headquarters in Oregon.
I kinda have a thing for taking pictures of bark. Can you see why I thought this tree was ready for its close up?
Paperbark maple: Thursday Tree Love
This paperbark maple, Acer griseum, was growing in the Oregon Garden in Silverton, Oregon. This tree grows to a height of 20 – 30 feet.
TheGardenWebsite.com refers to paperbark maples as a “hardy, tough and well-behaved tree.” Their peeling, cinnamon-colored bark is beautiful throughout the year.
The species name, griseum, refers to the grey color on the underside of the leaves. In the fall, the leaves turn various colors of red, orange, and yellow. This maple produces distinctive winged seeds are known as “samaras” or “helicopters.”
Surrounded by pines: Thursday Tree Love
Surrounded by pines in the forests near Bend, Oregon. Though it was a hot summer day, the forest canopy provided shade and cooler temperatures. 😀
Fence of Gold: Thursday Tree Love
I saw this fence of gold near Mitchell, Oregon last week. Aspen trees, decked out in golden leaves, looked like someone planted them at regular intervals within the evergreen forest.
Shore pines along the shorelines: TTL & WIL
On a recent trip to the Oregon coast, I was impressed by the contorted shapes of shore pines along the shorelines. The scientific name of this tree is Pinus contorta var. contorta. It’s a very fitting name.
Some shore pines are barely attached to rocky cliffs. This common tree of the coast tolerates salt spray and a wide variety of soils.
High winds are common near the shorelines and they sculpt these lovely trees into interesting shapes.
Others grow in 40-50 foot tall forests, constantly buffeted by the wind.
These resilient trees have adapted to living in a challenging environment. They twist and turn in an effort to find the best ways to survive.
Thursday Tree Love
Whatsoever is Lovely Week 27
Aspen eyes – somebody’s watching me: TTL
When I’m out walking among the aspen eyes early in the morning, I always feel like somebody’s watching me. While Michael Jackson was referring to his fans or the paparazzi with those lyrics, I’m referring to the eyes of nature. These aspen trees watch over me, always making sure I’m safe. My many-eyed guardians are beginning to leaf out with their distinctive fluttering leaves.
Had too much fun on Earth Day
This western juniper looks like it had too much fun on Earth Day. I think it was trying to sleep it off. 😉
The Meadow – A peaceful retreat: LAPC
For more than 25 years our family camped in a place we called “The Meadow” in northeastern Washington state. Though this site didn’t have luxuries like running water or restrooms, it was a peaceful retreat.
The first three pictures show different views of The Meadow. Stands of aspen and mixed conifers border the large grass meadow. This site is at an elevation of around 4,500 feet and hosts a wide variety of wildlife including three kinds of grouse, moose, deer, bear, cougar, and probably wolves. I had a memorable experience one day when a great gray owl drifted over me on its whisper quiet wings.
The next three photos show a couple of our pets from the past and a pest. Can you see the chipmunk silhouetted on the pine tree trunk? The chipmunks and camp robber birds would steal food right off your plate if you weren’t watching. In another picture you can see our dog, Keyah, walking in front of a place we called “Big Rock.” The kids loved climbing on top of this massive boulder. The other picture shows our dog, Leto, resting in front of the campfire. This boulder was a perfect backdrop for our fires.
It’s a Boy! Pine tree: Thursday Tree Love
I saw this “it’s a boy” pine tree along the trail to Big Tree, the largest ponderosa pine of its kind, in LaPine State Park, Oregon. I may have walked right past this odd tree, but I noticed two teenage boys laughing loudly and pointing at it. They took multiple pictures to share with their friends. Their reaction to it was almost as funny as the tree itself! 😀
Seeing red near Mt Jefferson: Wordless Wednesday
Turning into Fall: Wordless Wednesday
A larch in waiting up close: Macro Monday
This larch in waiting photo shows one of their tiny cones up close. The western larch needles turn gold in the fall before dropping. The pompom needle clusters in this photo were just beginning to turn. This unique tree is one of my local favorites.
Macro Monday
Bonsai trees – Living works of art: Thursday Tree Love
These bonsai trees in the Portland Japanese Garden were living works of art. We visited the garden in mid-October, when the colors of autumn were beginning to put on their show.
The first tree is a Japanese maple and it’s 35 years old. This variety’s foliage changes from green to shades of golden-yellow and red. This maple’s reddish bark intensifies in color over the winter months.
The second tree is a vine maple and it’s 75 years old. This type of maple is common in Pacific Northwest forests. Those growing in shade tend to have yellow fall color, while those in direct sunlight are more likely to turn orange and scarlet.
The third tree is a trident maple and it’s 30 years old. This maple is native to China, Korea, and Japan. It gets its name from its three-lobed leaves.
Streets lined with gold: Thursday Tree Love
These streets lined with gold are along the highway east of Mount Hood in Oregon. I was there a week ago and the colors were spectacular!
The golden leaves along this road are mostly on aspen and larch trees. Larch is a deciduous conifer. Yes, most conifers keep their leaves through the winter–not the larch. See my post Western larch – A beauty in gold for more about these trees.
We also saw pops of red from the vine maples growing along this route.
Continue readingRooted in the past: Thursday Tree Love
These western juniper trees near the shore of Prineville Reservoir were rooted in the past. After many years of fluctuating water levels, their roots became exposed. The red volcanic soil here stands out in strong contrast with the deep blue sky and green foliage.
Big Tree – Biggest Ponderosa Pine: TTL
This gigantic pine is Big Tree, AKA Big Red, the biggest Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa, ever recorded. It’s located in LaPine State Park, north of La Pine, Oregon. Though it lost 30 feet of its crown during severe storms, it is still the largest Ponderosa pine in circumference.
Here are some facts about this tree:
- Circumference: 28 feet 11 inches
- Height: 167 feet
- Crown spread: 68 feet
- Approximate age: 500+ years
- Board feet: 25,000
LaPine State Park Manager, Joe Wanamaker, gave insights about Big Red in an article in the local Source Weekly. He thought it was spared from being logged due to evidence of fire damage. This may have affected the quality of the wood harvested. Wanamaker also pointed out this tree is growing in an ideal location where water tends to collect in the soil from the nearby Deschutes River.
A paved, ADA accessible, 1/4 mile trail leads to this unique sight. Foot traffic around this much-loved attraction caused soil compaction that threatened its growth. A protective fence was constructed around it in the year 2000.
In this map of the park, from Oregon State Parks, Big Tree is located in the lower right corner.
Whirlybirds up close: Macro Monday
Whirlybirds up close on a maple tree in my High Desert yard. I have fond childhood memories of collecting whirlybirds from the ground and tossing them up into the air. Watching them helicopter towards the ground was cheap entertainment in those days.
Baby bird among the berries: Macro Monday
This morning I was out taking pictures of the sunrise and noticed this baby bird among the berries. It was lucky to have landed in a place covered with a cushioning layer of western juniper leaves.
I looked up in the tree overhead and spotted the nest. An adult American robin perched nearby, completely motionless. I talked to it and got no response at all. I have read that birds sleep with one eye open but this one didn’t follow that theory.
When we placed the baby bird back in its nest, it squawked and that finally got the attention of its parents. I hope it stays in the nest and fledges with its siblings.
Robins like junipers because they provide shelter and food. In the fall, they and other thrushes eat as many as 220 berries in a day.
The nest is in this tree. Can you spot it?
Loop-de-loop lodgepole: Thursday Tree Love
I saw this loop-de-loop lodgepole pine growing alongside Firehole Lake Drive in Yellowstone National Park. Everyone drove right past it but I had to stop and take its picture. I wondered what stopped it from going straight up. It figured out how to grow around obstacles and keep going in the right direction. A lesson for us all.
Ponderosa pine bark up close: Macro Monday
Ponderosa pine bark up close. This bark is made even more interesting with drips of amber pitch.
Macro Monday
Rough & rippling bark: Macro Monday
Close up view of rough & rippling bark of a western juniper tree near Bend, Oregon.
Macro Monday
Fiery red oak tree: Thursday Tree Love
I watched the colors turning last fall on this fiery red oak tree in a local park in Bend, Oregon. This young tree doesn’t yet have the twisting branch structure of mature oaks, but those uniquely-shaped leaves are beautiful three seasons of the year.
Snow-capped mountain ash: Thursday Tree Love
Snow-capped mountain ash berries are a delicious dessert for our feathered friends.
Oak tree at Newgrange: Thursday Tree Love
I saw this old oak tree at Newgrange, County Meath, Ireland last winter. I think they are one of my favorite trees without leaves. Look at those branches!
A decorated tree: Thursday Tree Love
I saw this decorated tree near Sisters, Oregon. There was a nice contrast between the rough brown ponderosa pine bark and the delicate tufts of fluorescent green lichen.
