One of the most beautiful scenes in winter is to come upon
an Eastern White Pine whose branches have received a layer of new fallen snow.
We have a number of these tall trees so when walking after a snow fall (preferably
no more than 2-3 inches) look for the white pine.One favorite tree is at the top of the hill
on Gunston Road
as you approach the Administration Office.For some reason the main trunk was divided in two making it an unusual
sight.It is also the long time spring
home of a pair of crows who raise their young in its cover.
The White Pine grows to a height of 80 to 110 feet (virgin
trees in New England were measured at up to
220 feet) with a relatively few large limbs in horizontal whorls.It can be easily identified by the
five-needle bundle (the only eastern pine with five needles) of a light green
to blue-green color. Its bark is smooth and dark gray with large fissures
occurring in older trees.
With its light soft grain this pine has always been an
important timber tree in the Northeast because of it value for
woodworking.It is frequently used in
reforestation projects because of it adaptability and rapid growth (3 feet per
year from the age of 10 to 25 years).The white pine is also grown for Christmas tree sales.But for those of us living in Parkfairfax, as
Michael Dirr writes “if I had to choose one pine for general landscaping use
the Eastern White Pine would be it.The
soft, plumy texture of the needles, the wide-spreading, horizontal disposed
branches, and the hauntingly beautiful asymmetry of ancient trees will make
believers out of doubters.”
For more information on the Eastern White Pine see
