It isn't all hard drudgery at The Homestead, sometimes we take a day off to enjoy the mountains. Yesterday we went Christmas tree hunting in the snow and fetched home a nine foot fir. I cut about a foot off the bottom to make it easier to wrestle through the door. The girls did the decorating and it looks really good. Last year at this time we were trying to move in to the house and I had to grab a tree on my own—not exactly in keeping with the family tradition. I found an ugly pinyon along the road near Escalante and threw it on top of one of my loads. We brought it with us to Grandma and Grandpa's house and the girls did a nice job with it, but this year's version is way better. With all due respect to the lowly pinyon, I think I'm sold on the true fir at Christmas time. Now, I'm going to call this one a subalpine fir (Abies bifolia), but someone could convince me that it should properly be called a western subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa). The taxonomy of the three (or four) subspecies/varieties has me a bit confused. (It is tough to see the leaves in this picture, but there is a specimen just to the right of Ellen.)
Monday, December 7, 2009
Christmas Tree
It isn't all hard drudgery at The Homestead, sometimes we take a day off to enjoy the mountains. Yesterday we went Christmas tree hunting in the snow and fetched home a nine foot fir. I cut about a foot off the bottom to make it easier to wrestle through the door. The girls did the decorating and it looks really good. Last year at this time we were trying to move in to the house and I had to grab a tree on my own—not exactly in keeping with the family tradition. I found an ugly pinyon along the road near Escalante and threw it on top of one of my loads. We brought it with us to Grandma and Grandpa's house and the girls did a nice job with it, but this year's version is way better. With all due respect to the lowly pinyon, I think I'm sold on the true fir at Christmas time. Now, I'm going to call this one a subalpine fir (Abies bifolia), but someone could convince me that it should properly be called a western subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa). The taxonomy of the three (or four) subspecies/varieties has me a bit confused. (It is tough to see the leaves in this picture, but there is a specimen just to the right of Ellen.)
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Wow, now that's what I call some snow! And they called a snow day yesterday for a measly 4 inches. I want what you have..REAL snow! We picked our tree this year from a nursery. Last year we did the "hunt and gather" thing and Koa tore open her chest chasing a squirrel through a barb wire fence. It wasn't as fun this year, but sometimes no drama is better. So is the tree to the right of Ellen "your" tree, or just an example? It looks nice, so if it was too small this year, don't forget where you took that picture for future years!
ReplyDeleteEllen is kneeling not standing, so the snow isn't as deep as it looks. We've had another foot or two of snow since then, however, so there is no more backcountry travel without skis or snow shoes. The tree to the right of Ellen is an example, but it is a good example and one that I will consider for the living room next Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThat good old trick photography! Kind of like holding the fish way out in front of you to make it look bigger.
ReplyDeleteYour blog left me sad and confused; it seems you failed to conduct the appropriate analysis to determine whether is was Abies lasiocarpa, bifolia or arizonica? As everyone knows the the abies lasiocarpa is identified by pulling off a few needles to show a red periderm on the fresh leaf scars. On foliar buds, the basal scales are equilaterally triangular with crenate or dentate margins. Leaves 18-31 mm × 1.5-2 mm; odor sharp (ß-phellandrene); lower surface with 4-5 stomatal rows on each side of midrib; upper surface blue-green, very glaucous, with 4-6 stomatal rows at midleaf.
ReplyDeleteIf you really think you have a Subsp. bifolia on your hands, it is well known that fresh leaf scars reveal a yellow or tan periderm on that species. On foliar buds, the basal bud scales are long, narrow-triangular to spathulate with crenate to entire margins. Leaves 11-25 × 1.25-1.5 mm; odor similar to camphor; lower surface with 3-5 lines of stomata on each side of midrib; upper surface light green to blue-green, usually glaucous, with 3-6 rows of stomata at midleaf.
My fear is that what you really have, but failed to correctly classify to my mystification, is the Var. arizonica, which has thickened, 'corky' bark that is white to grey and deeply furrowed, and has very glaucous foliage. In other respects it is like subsp. bifolia but you should know better as an advanced degree holder in the foresty sciences. Was your graduate degree from an accredited university?
I'll just stick to my comment of trick photography and leave it at that, for all those "simple folks" out there.
ReplyDeleteParowan is a "Tree City USA." My friend Vern runs the program. He knows a thing or two about dendrology. When he was at the house the other day, he took one look at the Christmas tree and said, "Concolor." By which he meant that he was looking at a White Fir (Abies concolor). I am beginning to wonder if Wayfinder6 asks a good question: Was my graduate school accredited?
ReplyDelete