THE "LEANING TAMARACK RANCH"!
One of the fun things about living "in the country" as opposed to living in a city, is that we never know what will happen next. "Mother Nature" is always dealing her hand. Sometimes things happen with a suddenness that surprises, other time things develop over time.
As an example, I have always wanted to install an "archway" near the entrance to our place, but never had the time nor did I see any pressing need to do so! You can imagine my surprise when Mother Nature took a hand in the matter!
We have had a little bit of snow this winter. Unlike many years where it snows and thaws and snows some more and thaws again, this time it pretty much snowed and froze. As a result, the stuff stays on the trees. That takes a toll on spindly ones like this Tamarack (Western Larch) featured in our above photo! It began leaning several weeks ago, and for some reason it bent a bit more. As the frozen snow added up at the top, it gradually continued to bend until it is practically horizontal. It makes an almost perfect archway! The name sort of suggests itself: "The Leaning Tamarack Ranch!"
Now the rule will be to keep an eye on it. The tree will either bend some more or rise again if the heavy weight on top is released by a January thaw. Or it may just be that the trunk has taken all it can stand and will rise no more! Still, it could break like a toothpick and block the way!
If I stop again to record the future progress of the "arch," I will use the same time-tested strategy: always stop just beyond the tree in case it decides to tumble down at such moment in time! While a uniquely decorated vehicle may make a great conversation piece, I will pass on that kind of an opportunity!
I am amazed some enterprising logger happening along has not as yet cut it down. But on the other hand, most will not strain themselves about such things until it makes the ground! At that point, if I get to it first, I will add it to the woodpile for next winters use (for you see, it needs to cure before it burns)!
If there are more developing surprises, this becomes a soap opera in the making......and I will keep you posted!
* * * * *
And I do need to keep you posted...as the leaning arch has now reached the ground! It is surprisingly agile and may stick around a while. Or it may not. We had some more snow, then some rain so this thing is pushed as far as it can go for now. It has provided us with some amusement, as you can imagine!
* * * * *
Well, it was bound to happen. The plow truck came by and the operator decided to end the sideshow by cutting down the Tamarack. It was quickly reduced to a few long sticks. When I got there later on, I took a chain saw to the pieces and made firewood out of it all. It made a welcome little addition to next years wood pile! It was nice of him to spoil all my fun! On the other hand it was becoming a hazard to the little traffic we have, so his decision was a sound one.
In examining the downed tree it was obvious why it leaned and could not come back up. Instead of the tree rings being centrally located, they were very much off center, which contributed to the weakening of the tree, causing it to lean. The inside looked a bit "punky" (pithy) to that only added to the instability!
One thing is sure, it made life interesting around here for a few days! Since winters are usually quiet anyway, a little excitement hurts not at all!
* * * * *
* * * * *
And I do need to keep you posted...as the leaning arch has now reached the ground! It is surprisingly agile and may stick around a while. Or it may not. We had some more snow, then some rain so this thing is pushed as far as it can go for now. It has provided us with some amusement, as you can imagine!
* * * * *
Well, it was bound to happen. The plow truck came by and the operator decided to end the sideshow by cutting down the Tamarack. It was quickly reduced to a few long sticks. When I got there later on, I took a chain saw to the pieces and made firewood out of it all. It made a welcome little addition to next years wood pile! It was nice of him to spoil all my fun! On the other hand it was becoming a hazard to the little traffic we have, so his decision was a sound one.
In examining the downed tree it was obvious why it leaned and could not come back up. Instead of the tree rings being centrally located, they were very much off center, which contributed to the weakening of the tree, causing it to lean. The inside looked a bit "punky" (pithy) to that only added to the instability!
One thing is sure, it made life interesting around here for a few days! Since winters are usually quiet anyway, a little excitement hurts not at all!
* * * * *
"Snow Crystals" from Bloggers Collection
Posted by
Harald Hesstvedt Scharnhorst
No comments:
Post a Comment