Pine tree growth

caterpillar in pineThis is my annual picture essay.  How much has the pine grown on the upper terrace in the past year?

30 centimetres or a foot at least.

Here is a picture of the tree in 2010.  I wish I had kept records from 2007 when we came here. As the tree was a mere seedling.

And it is special because I was strimming like mad that very first year and had a moment’s pause when I came to this strange seedling sticking out of solid rock.

Will I? Won’t I? I decided not to cut it down. And every year I am glad as it defies logic to keep on growing despite its hostile environment.

We don’t have pine trees on the lower terraces close to the house as they are potential fire hazard.  When the pines catch fire they tend to explode. And with hot air rising on these mountain tops, the explosion travels a long way uphill. Onto houses.

There are large pines behind us. Further up the hill. And this one can house the beastly inconvenience of processionary caterpillars. pine 2015

You might have noticed these in pine trees anywhere in the southern part of France. Or further afield for all I know. Pause while I have a bit of a rummage on the internet.

This is a great website if you want to read or see more: http://web.cortland.edu/fitzgerald/PineProcessionary.html

Southern Europe, ‘Near East’, North Africa.

Where on earth is Near East? I do so loathe the inexactitude of these geographical locations. Surely, it depends on where you live in relation to the region.  So British Empire. We are actually looking at Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Israel and Jordan. I’m ranting.

processionary caterpillarBack to caterpillars. I think we called them Hairy Grubs at the farm in Australia when we were growing up. Vile little critters that could really make you itch.

I keep well clear of them here. But if the nests are in reach I do cut them down and ‘dispose of them’. How?

Well, let’s just say there are tremendous advantages to having a roaring fire in one’s home.

There are plenty more caterpillars higher up in the pines up in the forest. So we are not going short.

And I couldn’t let my lovely strange little pine to be munched by caterpillars. Not after I have saved its life every single year I get near it with a strimmer.

fire