Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Old Growth Pines




Trees back in May.


It has been mere months ago that I last blogged about the pine trees in our yard. Standing well over 60 feet we have been blessed by 5 of these beauties in our front yard. They are Loblolly pines and until today I had no idea how old they were or how much I was going to miss them…

Back in May we were struck by lighting and lost our freezer, pump to the well and my husbands laptop, I felt sure it had hit one of the trees but could never tell, that is until about a month ago when its needles began to turn brown. Within a week or two it was dead and the one next to it was now dying.

Today as they are dying.


Seems that they have a huge root system that can span 50 feet or so and if the lighting hits anywhere the root system is well it can kill the tree… how sad.

 
I took my measuring tape today and carefully wrapped it around the biggest tree; 100 inches! I could not believe my eyes, so I did it again and took a picture. According to my husbands calculations using a program online this tree is between 79 and 100 years old. Imagine that.

100 inches = 100 years?


I will miss them when they are finally cut down tomorrow and I only hope the woodpeckers will make a new home in one of the tree we have left.


Trimming the limbs off.

The scent of pines is everywhere... so are the branches.

2 comments:

Pblacksaw said...

I'm gonna miss those trees we have a dead one too..
Patsy

Unknown said...

Yes, its so sad to see them come down but very exciting to watch the fallers doing it.
I have added you to the exchange and I need to have you email me your address.
Love the pics of your sweet granddaughters. I have 11 grandchildren myself and 6 of the are girls. I have 3 daughters.