Friday 27 March 2020

Krummholz

We're keeping things virus free today.

Last weekend, I misheard Gail, imagining she was proposing a walk to see some crumbs. Strange, I thought, but anything related to cookies gets my vote. Let's go!

Well it turns out the word she said was 'Krummholz' and although sadly this has nothing to do with foodables, the subject does at least fit the bill for Arty, Jakey and Rosy's Nature Friday bloghop.

Have a look at the Scots pine trees I encountered on my hike around the Beinn Eighe NNR Mountain Trail (this outing also featured on Tuesday's post).

At the base of the slope they stand tall and straight. 

Pausing for breath as one ascends the steep gradient, one notices that where the forest thins out the pines have more space to spread their branches.

And finally you reach the tree line, where the poor pines struggle to survive in thin soils and are constantly buffeted by strong and freezing winds, and they grow all twisted and stunted. This vegetation is the aforementioned 'Krummholz', which is German for 'crumpled wood'. 

We were lucky on this hike. For once, the breeze was gentle, as the more observant of you will have deduced from the 'at rest' setting of my flappy little ears.

Happy Nature Friday folks!


13 comments:

  1. Wow, those are some twisted lil trees!

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  2. we like the shape of that trees it has something special... what a wonderful place you visited ...

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  3. Love that gnarled tree! And that path...is it trench-like from years of use? Such a beautiful area.

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  4. What a sweet little tree and a beautiful spot for a walk!

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  5. Hari OM
    Thank you Bertie and Gail, for taking us to the tree-line, where some of us can no longer manage to take ourselves! Oh, the character of a krummholz'd tree... hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  6. It looks like a beautiful place for a hike and the krummholz is fun to see.

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  7. Oh Bertie the beauty surrounding you and Gail is full of breathtaking beauty. I did notice your ears were behaving.

    I am a bit infatuated by names of all things and their origins. Krummholz is quite a fun name. Our first home was on Green Raod dulllll, however, the neighborhood was called Shamrock Meadows. So ok I guess. I was delighted by our current neighborhood's name: Kingsmill Village and street Hedgemoor Dr.
    Hugs Cecilia

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  8. What a wonderful hike, we really like your mountains and a perfect picture of you and the krummholz tree!
    xoxo,
    Rosy, Jakey & Arty

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  9. The crumpled wood trees remind us of bonsai trees only they are shaped by nature not the hand of man.
    Sweet William The Scot

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  10. We had never hear that word before and are sure our lady can't say it! What a lovely virus free walk!

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  11. What a beautiful place to go for a walk. We're glad to hear it was a calm day too.

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  12. Thank you for sharing that, our nephew told my mom about those tress, but now she saw your photos and explaination and she understands!And you really do have to most beautiful walks ever!

    Kiki and Rosie

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