Sitka spruce in Norway; Norway spruce in the Pacific NW

Have you seen Norway spruce growing as a landscape tree in the Pacific NW? It turns out Norwegians extensively planted Sitka spruce in Norway starting about 100 years ago.

Western redcedars: the trick is butterflies ...

Do you ever wonder how to distinguish a western redcedar from the many other trees (native and cultivated) that we call cedars, cypresses, or junipers? The trick is butterflies.

Abundant Douglas maples?

Have you ever seen Douglas maples in abundance? ... I haven't either, until a recent week-long trip to Cypress Island near Anacortes, Washington.

Missing in action: green cones on Douglas-firs

Where are all the Douglas-fir green cones this year? Is this a sign of trouble?

It's snowing ... fluffy seeds of black cottonwood!

What is that "snow" drifting through the air? It's the fluffy seeds of black cottonwood.

Why do cones tend to grow near the tops of conifer trees?

As a rule-of-thumb, most seed cones (female cones) tend to grow in the upper portions of trees. Why is this?

What is a bract on a cone?

What are those "mousetails" sticking out from Douglas-fir cones? They are called "bracts." Learn about bracts here.

What are female cones and male cones?

What are seed cones? What are pollen cones? Are they different? Learn about cones here.