100 More species #73: Eastern white pine

[urbpan]

Eastern white pine Pinus strobus


I call this group the three sisters--don't know how appropriate that is, since they all bear male and female cones. They are by far the biggest trees in our yard, and among the biggest trees in the neighborhood. In fact, this species is the tallest tree species in New England. At the time time of colonization forests of them would grow to nearly three hundred feet. The tallest alive today are only about half that tall, the majority much shorter. In dense forests they grow tall and straight, and were highly prized as ships masts by the British navy.

In the suburbs they sprawl somewhat, and frequently drop branches in storms. Weighted by snow and blown by strong winds the two sisters on the right dropped huge branches that caused a lot of damage in our first year. I have used most of the fallen wood up in our outdoor fire--I like the flavor of pine roasted sausages. Charlie lays in the thick bed of pine needles and spots of pine sap drop on him, making nice smelling but itchy scabs of pitch on his fur.

This summer one of the pines held a mourning dove nest, and right now a squirrel is attempting a messy shelter in the branch crotch of sister 3. We are torn between disliking these trees for the labor they generate and appreciating them for their habitat value. Eastern white pine was entry number 049 in the 365 urban species project.