Long and winding road.
Aug 14, 2017 08:33:52 #
This was taken at an overlook in the SW corner of Colorado. You can see the western mountains and Red Mountain is prominent. The road winds around and takes you into the valley.
Rowedean
Rowedean
Aug 14, 2017 08:40:26 #
Aug 14, 2017 08:45:26 #
Beautiful picture. Yes the pine bark beetles are destroying our pine forests here, in Arizona too. So sad to see stands of magnificent trees dead. Wish the scientists would come up with a nontoxic spray to get rid of them or find another insect species to feed on them.
Aug 14, 2017 08:59:27 #
Aug 14, 2017 09:09:20 #
We had the same thing. Starting before the Cerro Grande fire in 2001, almost ALL of the native Pinon trees were killed by a pine bark beetle. There are several types of pine bark beetle and each one has its preferred pine tree. Drought conditions figure largely in bark beetle infestations. The trees don't have enough moisture/water to keep the sap in a healthy condition and so the beetle gets in and rings the branches, then moves on to other branches or other trees. Scotch pines (the ones with the very sticky sap that oozes out of the branches at the least injury) don't seem to have their own bark beetle. They (the Scotch pines) managed to stay alive in north central New Mexico.
Aug 14, 2017 09:23:14 #
Aug 14, 2017 09:23:43 #
Michael Boggia wrote:
Beautiful picture. Yes the pine bark beetles are destroying our pine forests here, in Arizona too. So sad to see stands of magnificent trees dead. Wish the scientists would come up with a nontoxic spray to get rid of them or find another insect species to feed on them.
Thanks for visiting.
Aug 14, 2017 09:24:25 #
Cwilson341 wrote:
Lovely landscape. The mountains are very refreshing!
Thanks, Carol. They definitely are refreshing this year - lots of moisture.
Aug 14, 2017 09:27:18 #
DragonsLady wrote:
We had the same thing. Starting before the Cerro ... (show quote)
Yes, they have caused lots of damage to lots of different trees. It is evident as you drive around the state. The drought a few years back really contributed to the infestation. With all the rain we have had this year, it helps the trees. In some areas there is considerable logging going on and new trees are sprouting, evergreens and aspens.
Aug 15, 2017 08:07:14 #
Aug 15, 2017 08:10:01 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Nice, and we have the same bug and tree problem here.
It seems to be everywhere, Jerry. Certainly has changed our forest out here. A comparison of photos taken in Rocky Mountain National Park ten years ago with today - the change is remarkable.
Aug 15, 2017 15:41:30 #
Pardon my ignorance but are the brownish trees a result of the beetles, or just a different species of tree?
Aug 15, 2017 16:53:43 #
Aug 15, 2017 17:42:39 #
Einreb92 wrote:
Pardon my ignorance but are the brownish trees a result of the beetles, or just a different species of tree?
The brown trees are a result of beetle kill. They have really devastated parts of our state forests. Thanks for asking.
Aug 15, 2017 17:43:51 #
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