Bristlecone Pine

GroveKeeper · Mar 27, 2017

I still remember the first time I bought grit.

I went to tractor supply. When I asked where the poultry grit was, I was given no help. They said "over there" and pointed vaguely in the direction on the pet food section. I searched around until eventually, I found some grit at the bottom of a display. I put it in my cart and preceded to check out. The cashier say, "Das a lotta grit. Yall have chikens?" We don't have chickens and it was two bags of grit. I didn't really know what to make of the situation and awkwardly scurried out the building like a frightened raccoon.

Vance Wood · Mar 28, 2017

GroveKeeper said:
I still remember the first time I bought grit.

I went to tractor supply. When I asked where the poultry grit was, I was given no help. They said "over there" and pointed vaguely in the direction on the pet food section. I searched around until eventually, I found some grit at the bottom of a display. I put it in my cart and preceded to check out. The cashier say, "Das a lotta grit. Yall have chikens?" We don't have chickens and it was two bags of grit. I didn't really know what to make of the situation and awkwardly scurried out the building like a frightened raccoon.

Sometimes it is difficult to answer questions from those who have no idea of how to grow bonsai and could care less. I have tried a couple of times and though on a surface level they may be trying to be helpful in the long run they usually wind up looking at you like you're crazy. The best part is this one and let me know if you have heard it: When you explain that you grow bonsai pronounced correctly they will say--- Bonsai (pronounced correctly)? OH---you mean Banzai---- like they are telling you that you did not say it right and that's why they didn't understand what you were saying. Oh well, life is funny so you might as well laugh at it.

parhamr · Apr 17, 2017

This might be a juvenile growth habit, but it's super interesting to see new needles growing amongst last year's needles.

Vance Wood · Apr 17, 2017

These are seedlngs right? These are the beginnings of the true needles. Bristlecones have to be three years old before they produce five needles within a fasicle. I believe you are seeing the beginnings of that process.

milehigh_7 · Apr 17, 2017

Vance Wood said:
Anyone who knows me is aware that I have been asking questions about Bristlecone Pines for many years. One of my questions is why are there none being shown that have been collected from the wild. I have posted a Bristlecone that is growing on the grounds of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs on the walking path between the visitors center and the College campus. It is a natural tree and has not been planted. There were many others in the environment but this one was less than two foot tall, well within the range of reasonable harvesting.

The question remains why is no one harvesting these trees. It is not like there are none out there; this photo proves their availability. Until this year I did not realize how accessible this tree can be, it's not like they are hidden away in the clouds and mountain ridges. The really good and really old ones are around 10,000' to 12,000' but there are a lot more of them than most people realize.

I would need to see the needles closer but I would bet that's not a Bristlecone (Pinus aristata) rather it looks like Pinus edulis, the Colorado pinyon. Not that it would be impossible but Bristlecone are seldom seen below about 8000' where (the altitude of the Cadet area of the Academy is about 7,258 ) Pinyon's range is right up to that mark. Like I said I would need to see the needles the Bristlecone is a 5 needle and would have drops of resin on the needles and the Pinyon is a 2 needle. both have needles about 1.5 - 2 inches.

milehigh_7 · Apr 17, 2017

Now you all know why I love these. I would backpack the trails of the Sangre De Christos every summer and set up camp at timberline. You just stare in awe...

Vance Wood · Apr 17, 2017

If this is a seedling it is maybe two years old. Bristlecones do no produce adult needles before three years old.

milehigh_7 said:
Now you all know why I love these. I would backpack the trails of the Sangre De Christos every summer and set up camp at timberline. You just stare in awe...

You should thank God you are still physically able to hike those distances at that altitude, I no longer can. It's a long story but the last time I was up around 12,000 feet coming across the Mountains I got altitude sickness and had do get down, quickly as possible.

just.wing.it · Apr 17, 2017

Vance Wood said:
If this is a seedling it is maybe two years old. Bristlecones do no produce adult needles before three years old.

You should thank God you are still physically able to hike those distances at that altitude, I no longer can. It's a long story but the last time I was up around 12,000 feet coming across the Mountains I got altitude sickness and had do get down, quickly as possible.

I was noticing some slight shortness of breath on top of Pike's Peak, I think it's around 14,000ft....
There was a great view that day, very clear sky...
I saw a single Raven up there, which was surprising to me....it was just hanging out, flying around a bit and hanging out some more....
The craziest thing I saw up there was my wife's 90 year old grandmother standing up there smoking a Winston like it was nothing....

milehigh_7 · Apr 17, 2017

Vance Wood said:
If this is a seedling it is maybe two years old. Bristlecones do no produce adult needles before three years old.

You should thank God you are still physically able to hike those distances at that altitude, I no longer can. It's a long story but the last time I was up around 12,000 feet coming across the Mountains I got altitude sickness and had do get down, quickly as possible.

Altitude sickness is no joke. My friend, who was an all-American cross country runner used to be rather susceptible to it. It can be quite serious.

just.wing.it · Apr 17, 2017

milehigh_7 said:
Altitude sickness is no joke. My friend, who was an all-American cross country runner used to be rather susceptible to it. It can be quite serious.

Can you imagine dragging a Winston up there?
I'd have probably died on the spot .

Vance Wood · Apr 17, 2017

I had quit smoking about two years before this incident. No fun, can be fatal. Yes Pikes Peak is 14,000 ft. There are some bristle cones up there. We took the cog rail way up and back. Quite a ride and and an interesting stay at the top. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip.

just.wing.it · Apr 17, 2017

Vance Wood said:
I had quit smoking about two years before this incident. No fun, can be fatal.

I quit early on. Got too expensive...
Now I would probably puke if I had one...

Vance Wood · Apr 17, 2017

It's been six or seven years for me. Glad I did it and I still miss it.

M. Frary · Apr 17, 2017

just.wing.it said:
I quit early on. Got too expensive...
Now I would probably puke if I had one...

I roll my own.
Have an electric machine that I can make 3 per minute.
Costs $10.00 a carton.
You could start again if you wanted to do this.

milehigh_7 · Apr 17, 2017

Vance Wood said:
I had quit smoking about two years before this incident. No fun, can be fatal. Yes Pikes Peak is 14,000 ft. There are some bristle cones up there. We took the cog rail way up and back. Quite a ride and and an interesting stay at the top. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip.

I grew up within eyesight of Pike's Peak. I miss home.

Arcto · Apr 17, 2017

Here are a couple of aristata's in the landscape here. The one on the right was over topped by a birch for years. Note the paler color and leggy growth.

The right tree after the overtopping birch branches were removed and sun got to the interior of the tree. Bristlecones are the kings of backbudding.

plant_dr · Jul 6, 2017

I spent the past several days in Brian Head, Utah. There are a couple groves of bristlecones there but I was only able to visit one grove in the time I had.
I was told afterwards that the other area had the more gnarly/ twisted trees in it, but these were still cool!

This smaller one had nice movement in the trunk, great taper and beautiful bark with deadwood at the top. Do you think anyone would notice if it disappeared one day?

I'm totally kidding about the disappearing, by the way...

Vance Wood · Jul 6, 2017

Envious in the extreme.

chansen · Jul 6, 2017

plant_dr said:
I spent the past several days in Brian Head, Utah. There are a couple groves of bristlecones there but I was only able to visit one grove in the time I had.
I was told afterwards that the other area had the more gnarly/ twisted trees in it, but these were still cool!

This smaller one had nice movement in the trunk, great taper and beautiful bark with deadwood at the top. Do you think anyone would notice if it disappeared one day?

I'm totally kidding about the disappearing, by the way...

Hopefully they are all still there after the HUGE fire. Ironically you can get a Christmas tree permit, and wood permit, but no sapling permits. Why they let you kill trees, but not take them out alive is beyond me.

chicago1980 · Jul 6, 2017

Smoke said:
I wonder if any other nationalities are as obsessed with this notion as some Americans?

From my experience, YES!

Bristlecone Pine

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Mister 500,000

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Deadwood Head

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Deadwood Head

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