This Bucket is a photo diary on some unconventional looking trees I’ve observed in my various local wanderings. Some appear to be growing and prospering under rather difficult and stark conditions. Their shapes are often graceful and even artsy. Others are contorted, gross, gangly, and even eerie, but all are interesting.
The Daily Bucket is a regular feature of the Backyard Science group. It is a place to note any observations you have made of the world around you. Insects, weather, meteorites, climate, birds and/or flowers. All are worthy additions to the bucket. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns that are quietly unwinding around us.
Roots serve many purposes for plants providing structural support, gathering and conveying water, nutrients, and oxygen for growth. But what they sometimes have to do to achieve these purposes is fascinating.
Anyone who has been in the woods at all has seen the results of the process of dying or dead trees begetting new life in the form of nurse logs and stumps which provide them with initial structure and nourishment. Other trees seem to grow even without such ready access to nutrients and demonstrate their tenacity to survive under seemingly the harshest of conditions. The lengths to which they will go seeking a small foothold in the earth for nourishment is astounding. And in some cases, it is equally interesting of how little a purchase they seem to need to grow.
Nurse logs and stumps:
Roots seeking nutrients on and around rocks:
The next two photos are of the same tree. The roots spread so far I needed two photos to capture it all.
These next two images are from different angles on the Title Photo. They show the fir tree on the left and the cedar on the right and how their roots overlap and mingle over the same hunk of Chuckanut Sandstone.
Who needs Soil, or, I’ll take it on the Rocks
Miscellaneous roots:
So there you have it, a bunch of cool trees and roots.
Now it is your turn so please jump in and share with us your trees and roots, and anything else that suits your fancy.
I know there are tree experts on the list and I am simply an admirer, but I do hope you will chime in with your thoughts, experiences and more photos.
"Spotlight on Green News & Views" will be posted every Saturday at noon Pacific Time and every Wednesday at 3:30 Pacific Time on the Daily Kos front page. Be sure to recommend and comment in the diary.