Tree of the day

[Don P]

When we were looking at the last oak I happened across a good oak field guide;
https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/fieldguide.pdf

[caveman]

 

Tree of the day for 6/14.  Most will recognize this one but an invasive insect is killing this species.

[Ljohnsaw]

The cones look like the hemlock we had back in NY state.

[Ianab]

When you run out of TOTD locally, let me know. 

I can go for a wander around town and find some head scratchers for you all. 

[caveman]

Ian, I am sure there are some trees down there that would stump us all.

Ijohnsaw, you got it.   Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis).  The hemlock wooly adelgid has wiped out a considerable amount of these trees in the east.  Biological controls include an introduced, black lady beetle from Japan that feeds on the adelgid. 

[Ljohnsaw]

The hemlock wooly adelgid has wiped out a considerable amount of these trees in the east.

That is really sad to hear.  We had them as sort of a fence row between houses where I grew up in upper Westchester county.

[firefighter ontheside]

I tried to grow hemlock here, but they wouldn't grow.

[caveman]

Today's tree of the day is brought to you by Don P.  

 

 

 

[WDH]

Those branches look whorly and the fasicles five-ish.  Cones probably have a glandular tip, too.

[Southside]

Back in the day the King claimed a bunch of them for ship masts and would have a representative carve a symbol into the tree. I have actually seen the remains of one of those symbols on a living tree. 

One can also say it is a very "naughty" wood.  :D

[firefighter ontheside]

One of my favorite pines.  My absolute favorite one was a big one in my grandmas yard.  It was a great climbing tree because of the way the limbs grow like wagon wheel spokes.  Unfortunately a tornado took it down in 2003.  Some of its descendants grow on our land now, but they're small.

[Texas Ranger]

need to put a strobe light on this so I can see it

[hacknchop]

referred to as the Giants of forest on account of their being head and shoulders above all other trees in our neck of the woods and here in Canada still owned by the Queen of England.

[Andries]

In NW Ontario, this tree is the preferred nesting spot for Bald Eagles.
So, as @hacknchop has said; it's like the Queen's tree is receiving Donald Trump as a guest.
:D   ;D   :D  

[hacknchop]

:D:D

[btulloh]

One of my favorite pines.  My absolute favorite one was a big one in my grandmas yard.  It was a great climbing tree because of the way the limbs grow like wagon wheel spokes.  Unfortunately a tornado took it down in 2003.  Some of its descendants grow on our land now, but they're small.

You can't fall out of one. The pitch won't let you.

[firefighter ontheside]

Where is everyone?  I need closure.

[Ljohnsaw]

The pitch won't let you.

So it must be a "pitch pine"?

[WDH]

The 5 needles to the fascicle make it a white pine.  Pitch pine has 3 needles to the fascicle and it is a yellow pine. 

[btulloh]

I think it's a white pine. Climbing one would get you pretty sticky. I didn't mean to throw a curve ball in there. Better wait for confirmation. My track record is not that good.

[WDH]

Pinus strobus.

[firefighter ontheside]

I was sure that it was white pine.  I just wanted to hear it from caveman.

[btulloh]

In English please!

[thecfarm]

I had a bunch of big ones of those pines. Some very nice ones,some not so nice ones. Some made some very nice logs. I had some that was 36 inches across. That was a normal size. No big deal. Had some that even went up to 4 feet across and than about 8 feet crotched out 3 times.  I had a few trees that went well over 50 inches. Those was the ones the truck diver loader had a hard time with.Someone had to keep the mill supplied with pallet grade.  :D  Those big ones took a while to limb out. My Father and me would cut a "road" for the big ones to fall into. No sense in smashing down trees 6-8 inches across.

[Old Greenhorn]

Love these pines, the needles are so soft compared to the others.  And they grow SO fast! Some day I might get to mill one, but I love the ones on the property and they are strong and straight and too few. The ones that could come down are not 'milling material'. stunted, curved, and lots of side branches. Lovely tree though.