Really enjoyed that tour. Thank you.
Richard

Glad you enjoyed.

Dax

Good to see that you got over there. Did you see any broom ? Did you find the weeping Pinus rigidas ? That place is real interesting place to see. I think there is a lot more acres there than you posted though. Went there the first time with Chub Harper and Randy Dykstra many years ago.
Dennis

Dax, I really enjoyed this tour to.
How come that Pinus densiflora is planted in this forest while it's not native in the U.S.?
This is a bit strange to me...

Very nice ! Looks to be very sandy.

I was in central IL last month visiting family. In the Havana area (south of Peoria) the soil turns sandy near the Illinois River and you begin to see lots of pine forest.

Are you sure pic #15 (Pinus densiflora bark) isn't really rigida? The epicormic shoots on the trunk are a hallmark for rigida and not densiflora.

That looks like where I was born, north of Berlin, Germany. Pines (Kiefern) and sand, glaciers ground rocks to sand many thousand years ago. In summer it was dry and very warm, and nice.
Bernd

"Are you sure pic #15 (Pinus densiflora bark) isn't really rigida? The epicormic shoots on the trunk are a hallmark for rigida and not densiflora"

The persistent cones also fit P. rigida better. But the pics aren't clear enough to be 100% certain.

Resin

Here is the best photo I can offer for clarification:

Talk later and answer questions.

Dax

Nope no brooms Hermsen, only those waiting to be found.

Edwin, prior to going to the park I heard there were all species mentioned in my first post. I cannot answer for you your question regarding densiflora, however, I wish I would have found and photographed a cone on the ground for confirmation.

Dax

Hi Dax,

The cones there could well be P. densiflora, they don't look right for P. rigida. But still not enough detail to clinch it.

You'll have to go back for another look ;-)

Resin

I certainly will!

Thanks Resin- Guys!

Dax

Dax, do you know the history of the park?
Why all the different kind of trees?
Why was it made in to a State Park?
When I do a search, I get this thread, and that's all.
Mike

The pictures are lovely, but in person it is even better. I lived in the area of Big River for a few years. I used to take my kids hiking through when they were little. It originally was a pine plantation. The state acquired it and now it is a state park. I want to say it is close to 3,000 acres now.

Rhonda

Thanks Rhonda. I have a long, long, ways to go to put footprints in this park.

Dax