Longleaf Pines

Ok, so I have probably told every joke there is about longleaf pines not having any leaves, but they really are spectacular trees. The first couple years after you plant them, they look like green pom-poms propped up in the dirt. There have been tests on the initial pom-pom stage where they wrapped the cone at the center of the “bush” in tissue paper before a prescribed burn and the tissue paper did not have a mark on them. However, once the hit 7+ years, they shoot up to 15 feet – I think they look a bit like fuzzy cacti when they get to this point.

About a year after Hugh and I started dating, he finally invited me out to the cabin where his dad and buddy had just cleared half of their land to plant these little longleaf pine saplings. This is when all of the facts about longleaf pines where lobbed at me with such excitement for just a silly looking pine tree. But in all seriousness, longleaf pines are a big part of our culture: the needles are collected for commercial pine-straw {farms should be secured or the needles will be stolen}, they are used for telephone poles and even ship masts – just to help get you in the mind set. The grow very straight and very tall, and there is a very big movement to continue the species because, of course, it was over harvested.

So enough background, on our last trip out to the farm we took a different path for our run around the property, and this time we went through the healthiest grove which was secluded and I had not seen. This is not the greatest picture because we were playing the panorama feature, but I was floored! All of the other plantings were around the 7-8 ft mark, but these were spectacular at twice that height. It is not often in a short period that you get to witness something like this 6 inch saplings to 15 ft. adolescent trees in only 7 years.

We ran back through this part of the farm again this weekend with no less awe than the first time I got to experience their presence. Sometimes, you just need to stop and watch the trees grow. There is so much wisdom that you can gain but just taking the time to absorb it all. I think part of my creative pilgrimage is not to always be creating, a large portions needs to also spent listening, day dreaming and just enjoying the experiences that I encounter, so today’s post falls under inspiration – which is just as important as the final product.

Categories: 365 Challenge, Garden, Inspiration