Boy.... and we keep preaching over trees planted too close together...

Groupings of similar trees growing close together are called clumps and groves, the clump or the grove being seen as a single element in the landscape. When different kinds of dissimilar-looking trees, which read as individual features are packed together that is when it is seen as a clutter or a crowding.

When different kinds of dissimilar-looking trees, which read as individual features are packed together that is when it is seen as a clutter or a crowding.

True. This is why pictures of the wilderness, and of nature doing it's thing without human interference are often times a lot cooler (forgive my low-brow vernacular) than pictures of bland landscaping jobs.

Two things jump out here. First, the white pine's branch habit, which is unlike anything I've seen in the species. Western white pine sometimes gets almost as compressed and smooth-margined as these branch complexes, but in strobus that is truly unusual.
Second, the forest scene shows very rapid erosion. None of those roots grew out in the open air, so the depth of root exposed here and the ages of the trees can give you a good idea of the rate of soil loss. Nice pics.

Hi TJ, guess who wants some scions next winter or anytime for that matter?? Me...

Thanks for the explantion Pinetree.

Dax

What is resembles somewhat is the commonly grown P. strobus f. nana, which often throws up a lead in time and gradually pulls itself out of the rounded bush habit. Some comparatively young specimens may already have a lead poking out, often to the side at first.

Small bushy trees appearing to be f. nana are comparatively frequent here. Perhaps some of these are actually seedling variants like the one shown.

Thanks, Pinetree, it seemed unusual to me as well. Almost the ultimate in natural "cloud pruning".

tj

Interesting, bboy, about f. nana. I'll have to go back and look for seedlings, although no cones were apparent this year.

tj

"Dwarf, bushy cultivars under this name since --A.L. Jacobson, NORTH AMERICAN LANDSCAPE TREES (1996, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley)

As I said earlier this behavior being shown by plants sold as 'Nana' here appears to me to be more often than just "in some cases". I've also noticed that 'Nana' may arrive from the grower sheared, as are the sheared mugo pines that then explode into taller and looser shapes after being installed in the final planting site.

Well, if they've been around since 1850 there should be some trees that are the size of the one pictured. Seen any like that?

tj