Candles on the ponderosa

Unlike the wax candles on my coffee table, the candles on the ponderosa pines touched by May’s morning light glow as they reach as with reverence toward the Heavens.

Gleaming with life, the candles contain the spring growth of the tree. David Douglas, the naturalist, named the magnificent giant whose name Ponderosa means ‘heavy wood.’ Native Americans revered the long needled, single flush, (one growth of candles per year) pine tree for many uses including pitch for adhesive, needles for tea, logs for canoes, and dried bark for sweet summer treats. The ripe cones provide seeds for squirrels, chipmunks, quail and many other birds and animals. Pine seeds are also a culinary delight available in grocery stores today.

The long taproot of the ponderosa pine contributes to its drought tolerance and fire resistance as we see in the evidence of recent wildfires sparing survivors in the forest.

Though pollen from the wind blown cones seeps in the cracks of our homes and coats our driveways and cars with yellow dust, most of it pollinates the immature cones for the next season’s seed supply.

The wind also combs the branches of ripe needles, which land on our lawns and pathways. Not to despair: Those needles make excellent weed repellant and com post covers in gardens.

A long disputed argument about the acidity of pine needles has finally been resolved. Pine needles do not contribute significantly to the acidic condition of the soil therefore are a recommended ingredient for compost.

Determined to use this resource and discovering I did not have enough, I began collecting bags of pine needles on county roads. I guess this was not a customary practice as several motorists stopped to ask if I needed assistance. When explaining what I was doing, sympathetic head shaking was their response.

The cones of the ponderosa pine not only provide feed for wildlife they make a delight The pine cones, like little brown roses, nestle among the flowers and shrubs. I didn’t have to collect more pine cones as I had plenty!

Ponderosa’s may grow up to 250 feet tall, however, managing the size and shape of a young ponderosa is possible. The candles regulate the growth of the tree. By pruning the candles a more compact shape can be attained.

A cluster of candles grow at the tip of a branch with a dominant candle in the center. This longer candle will be the one to develop a primary branch with the other candles growing as secondary branches. By shortening the primary candle, the length of the new branch will be shortened. By removing it the cluster of candles will grow branches. By shortening all the candles, eventually an overall broadening more uniform specimen will be the result.

This signature plant of the Inland Empire continues to remind me of the uniqueness of this place in the world I call home and I salute, as do the candles of the ponderosa, to this privilege to reside.

— Margaret A. Swenson is a WSU Master Gardener. To reach a Master Gardener, call 509 477-2181.