Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Sunday 24 June 2012

Tall Trees

The New Zealand Kahikatea, or White  Pine , is one of the tallest of our forest trees, growing to a height of  150 feet. Years ago the wood was in much demand for butter boxes, tallow casks and cheese crates. This was before the fibre-board containers were made  It grows straight, with a long slender trunk.Today Hugh and I went on a short walk, in the Pohangina Valley area, where there are many of these trees.The track was slippery, with many leaves plastered to the dirt, and knotty tree roots that needed  careful steps, to avoid falling over.
Kahikatea Trees
These trees will not have been  pruned or limbed, and grow to the sun.
Standing Tall together
Sky behind the greenery
Further along, there was another tree that had been felled to make  it easier to walk along the track.This had been a huge  tree, and the slab left with the smooth face after the chainsaw had cut through showed some fascinating lines.
Felled tree with moss
Signs left behind
Most  of the walk was in deep shadow, and the stream below well hidden by so many trees and branches.The sun shone through so very briefly, then rain set in. We brought our picnic home .Pumpkin soup made by Hugh yesterday. Delicious.We did not hear one bird until we left that area. So  W.S. Gilbert must have been in another place when he wrote this.
Walkway in shadow











Quotation  of the day from W.S. Gilbert
“ On a tree by a river a little tom-tit
Sang “ Willow, titwillow, titwillow”
Cheers from Jean

5 comments:

Lindsjö taxar said...

What big trees?? NIce pictures of them. Our will not grow so big. Ýou must feel a little small walking around them :-)

Nancy J said...

Yes, and as I am not tall, not even slightly tall, they seemed to be huge. It was quite dark on the walk so I used manual settings, and the wide range lens, and played with them a bit to get a better range of colours.Those trees grow well in swampy areas. But are not used for house timber in NZ.Cheers from Jean

Georgia said...

The Black Pine is the "City Tree" in my Japanese Hometown. They can also grow tall and straight. Many full grown ones were moved several years ago to make way for an expressway. It's wonderful to see the great majority of them thriving in their new locations.

Michaele said...

I love how your blog is full of tidbits of information and always a nice quote. Amazing trees that tower like that. Amazing.

Nancy J said...

Michaele, sad things happen when we have cats,dogs,horses and chicks, You were so brave to let him go!! Yes, bits and pieces, and when I read other blogs out comes the Atlas, or I Google to find more.Ta , very very much for your lovely words,I felt so happy when I read them.Greetings from Jean