Way below the tree line

Today was a regular workday, and all was as usual in our busy office lives. We had dinner at the Station House, which was lovely, and then caught a hike on the way home. We have been talking about the tree line. It seems quaking aspen and pines are near the tree line in Colorado, but the interwebs tell me that Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) and Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) are likely to be happier closer to the tree line. This is entering into our dinner conversation because of a super cool book Matt discovered here, called A Natural History of California by Allan A. Schoenherr. Turns out that the tree line isn't something specific but rather the area where trees can't live because it's too cold and windy or continuous snow pack, making it hard to germinate and survive for young trees. Basically, the resources are not available for tree life, and it gives way to shrubs. The trees become Krummholz, which is a cool word - so look it up.

Have a splendid day.

Sending oodles of love,

Tawnia

Bird List - 31 species today

California Quail
Mourning Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Osprey
Acorn Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Hutton's Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Steller's Jay
California Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Cliff Swallow
Wrentit
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Pacific Wren
Bewick's Wren
Western Bluebird
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
Pine Siskin
Dark-eyed Junco
Song Sparrow
California Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Brewer's Blackbird
Wilson's Warbler
Black-headed Grosbeak