Planting Sugar Pines...
I learned about the Sugar Pine Foundation at Earth Day and knew I wanted to be a part of it. This morning, I met a group of dedicated volunteers in Glenbrook, NV where I personally planted 30 Sugar Pine "babies". These trees are the world's largest species of pine. They are noted for their uniquely beautiful shape and enormous cones (my favorite and truly a treat to find). Sugar pines historically accounted for 25% of Tahoe's mixed-conifer forests. Today, this "at-risk" species makes up less than 5% of the forest composition.
The Sugar Pine Foundation is working to save these amazing trees from a non-native invasive fungus called white pine blister rust by educating and involving the local community in hands-on forest stewardship. Plantings occur several times and all over the Tahoe area!
Today was very hands-on for me. Under a spectacular blue sky, on a hillside overlooking the Lake, I toiled in the earth and hopefully did my small part to help reforest this beautiful area. Needless-to-say, I had a very fun time contributing with a group of very serious tree lovers.
The Sugar Pine Foundation is working to save these amazing trees from a non-native invasive fungus called white pine blister rust by educating and involving the local community in hands-on forest stewardship. Plantings occur several times and all over the Tahoe area!
Today was very hands-on for me. Under a spectacular blue sky, on a hillside overlooking the Lake, I toiled in the earth and hopefully did my small part to help reforest this beautiful area. Needless-to-say, I had a very fun time contributing with a group of very serious tree lovers.
He who plants a tree
Plants a hope.
~Lucy Larcom, "Plant a Tree"
Plants a hope.
~Lucy Larcom, "Plant a Tree"
2 comments:
Thank you, Denise for helping us save the sugar pines! We hope to see you again.
Piece of Trivia: Sugar Pines get their name from the sweet sappy substance they secrete. Rumor is that John Muir preferred sugar pine syrup rather than maple syrup on his pancakes. Unfortunately for some, the sugar pine syrup also has laxative properties, that is probably why it was not commercially developed.
Good for you to get involved with a great organization! Often I wish I had more time to give back, but it will come eventually...
I love the 'piece of trivia' comment.
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