How to smell a Ponderosa Pine
Created | Updated Apr 19, 2013
(Ponderosa Pine: pinus ponderosa)
aka Yellow Pine, Bull Pine, Rock Pine.
One of the more unique olfactory pleasures of visiting Earth is the rich, deep, vanilla-like aroma produced by the Ponderosa Pine on hot summer days.
Simply follow these instructions:
1. Travel to a part of the world where you are likely to find a Ponderosa Pine in its native range.
Ponderosa Pine are native to the western interior of North America, and can particularily be seen in northeastern Washington and Oregon, northern Idaho, and southern British Columbia. If you are further south, you might try central or northern Arizona or New Mexico, especially the highlands around Flagstaff. The Ponderosa Pine may also be found in Northern Mexico at higher elevations.
If traveling by car, a number of highways offer outstanding opportunities to smell Ponderosa Pine. Among these are the Crowsnest Hwy (Hwy.3) in British Columbia, particularily between Princeton and Rock Creek, and again from Creston through Fernie. Also, do try US Hwy 2 in the extreme northwest of Montana (near Libby).
For those not traveling by car, Ponderosa Pine may also be found in several areas more friendly to foot or bike travellers. For example, the main campus of the University of Montana (in Missoula, MT) features extensive ornamental plantings of the Ponderosa Pine, which, not coincidentally, is also Montana's official state tree.
2. Learn how to recognize a Ponderosa Pine.
The Ponderosa Pine is a long-needled yellow pine native to the western interior of North America. Look for a solitary conifer with long, slim needles in bunches of three. The cones are large and cute and roundish, but the real giveaway is the deeply red-coloured bark. Some describe this colour as 'cinnamon', as can be quite rich and vivid. On older trees, the bark may also have pronounced dark vertical grooves along it, similar in orientation to those found on the Douglas-fir.
Several images are, of course, available online.
3. Wait for a very hot summer day in July or August.
Check the thermometer. Best results occur at temperatures above 30-35 C (or about 95-100 F). Ensure that the sun is out, and that it is not overcast.
4. Set out to find a mature Ponderosa Pine.
Refer to step 2, above, for a description of the Ponderosa Pine, and bear this in mind. For best results whether driving or walking, try to find a trail that is at a high elevation, and away from the city air (if this is a local problem).
Ponderosa pine tend to be solitary trees, and under natural conditions tend to have little or no understorey, forming what many have termed a 'park-like' setting. This setting arises from the fact that the Ponderosa Pine is a 'fire-dependant' species, in that it relies on frequent (5-10 years) low-intensity groundfires to kill off potential competitors and retain its dominance. Thus, no understorey.
5. Ensure that this is a mature Ponderosa Pine (eg. more than 2 feet in circumference).
6. Approach the Ponderosa Pine, and insert your nose into one of the deeper grooves in the bark for best results.
7. Inhale deeply. The vanilla-like aroma you smell is an extremely pleasant side-effect of the tree's resistance to fire.
* For best results, we would suggest the Crowsnest Highway just east of Princeton BC, or US 2 near Libby MT.
aka Yellow Pine, Bull Pine, Rock Pine.
One of the more unique olfactory pleasures of visiting Earth is the rich, deep, vanilla-like aroma produced by the Ponderosa Pine on hot summer days.
Simply follow these instructions:
1. Travel to a part of the world where you are likely to find a Ponderosa Pine in its native range.
Ponderosa Pine are native to the western interior of North America, and can particularily be seen in northeastern Washington and Oregon, northern Idaho, and southern British Columbia. If you are further south, you might try central or northern Arizona or New Mexico, especially the highlands around Flagstaff. The Ponderosa Pine may also be found in Northern Mexico at higher elevations.
If traveling by car, a number of highways offer outstanding opportunities to smell Ponderosa Pine. Among these are the Crowsnest Hwy (Hwy.3) in British Columbia, particularily between Princeton and Rock Creek, and again from Creston through Fernie. Also, do try US Hwy 2 in the extreme northwest of Montana (near Libby).
For those not traveling by car, Ponderosa Pine may also be found in several areas more friendly to foot or bike travellers. For example, the main campus of the University of Montana (in Missoula, MT) features extensive ornamental plantings of the Ponderosa Pine, which, not coincidentally, is also Montana's official state tree.
2. Learn how to recognize a Ponderosa Pine.
The Ponderosa Pine is a long-needled yellow pine native to the western interior of North America. Look for a solitary conifer with long, slim needles in bunches of three. The cones are large and cute and roundish, but the real giveaway is the deeply red-coloured bark. Some describe this colour as 'cinnamon', as can be quite rich and vivid. On older trees, the bark may also have pronounced dark vertical grooves along it, similar in orientation to those found on the Douglas-fir.
Several images are, of course, available online.
3. Wait for a very hot summer day in July or August.
Check the thermometer. Best results occur at temperatures above 30-35 C (or about 95-100 F). Ensure that the sun is out, and that it is not overcast.
4. Set out to find a mature Ponderosa Pine.
Refer to step 2, above, for a description of the Ponderosa Pine, and bear this in mind. For best results whether driving or walking, try to find a trail that is at a high elevation, and away from the city air (if this is a local problem).
Ponderosa pine tend to be solitary trees, and under natural conditions tend to have little or no understorey, forming what many have termed a 'park-like' setting. This setting arises from the fact that the Ponderosa Pine is a 'fire-dependant' species, in that it relies on frequent (5-10 years) low-intensity groundfires to kill off potential competitors and retain its dominance. Thus, no understorey.
5. Ensure that this is a mature Ponderosa Pine (eg. more than 2 feet in circumference).
6. Approach the Ponderosa Pine, and insert your nose into one of the deeper grooves in the bark for best results.
7. Inhale deeply. The vanilla-like aroma you smell is an extremely pleasant side-effect of the tree's resistance to fire.
* For best results, we would suggest the Crowsnest Highway just east of Princeton BC, or US 2 near Libby MT.
