The outer surface of the trunk seems to have suddenly split. It looks to me like a hurricane force wind might be responsible, but I don't really know. Also have no idea if it'll survive. That trunk is at least a foot in diameter.
I heard there's a hurricane in the Pacific that likely will bring us rain this weekend. I'm really optimistic because I've always said I get my best rains when there are hurricanes in the Baja. So we'll see. I did a little research and found a site that says there has not been a single May tropical storm or hurricane within 250 miles of Baja California since 1951, but if I understand correctly, this one, Hurricane Bud, will be the first.
Here are a couple of interesting wasps. I'm not sure of the names but I think maybe Tarantula Wasp.
Carolyn,
ReplyDeleteIt looks to me that the tree was struck by lightning.
Dennis
Kelly Bryan, a retired fire chief, said the same thing, so I'm going with you both. Cool! Must have happened a week ago when they had that bad storm south of here and I was in Alpine. My sister was a mile away and never heard any lightning though. Kelly thinks the tree will survive. Thanks for weighing in.
ReplyDeleteLightning was the first thing I thought of also.......if it was lightning I would be surprised if it survives..,
ReplyDeleteOh, dear! I guess we shall see. Thanks for the input. I'll keep everyone updated on it.
ReplyDeleteI've seen this before and it is strange unusual climatic circumstances which can cause this. Usually it is a result of rapid loss of moisture as when a tree is cut down and the trunk splits, but as you've stated, you water regularly. I'm not sure how you've watered, but if it's surface watering with a tank and hose filling up surface basins, then perhaps the roots have not been encouraged enough to go deeper for subsoil water chaches is what you want to happen.
ReplyDeleteAlso being a Pinus eldarica it should hold up to heat stress. But even heat resistant pines need mycorrhizal colonization which most of the time will never allow the tree to stress. No pine will fair well without it especially in the hotter areas. Yet I've also seen them stressed by over watering as these can be some of the world's most fast growing pines, competing with Pinus halepensis which will become windswept and almost falling over without staking. Too much water allows soft sapwood growth where it hasn't been allowed to harden off a bit and acquire strength needed to withstand pressures of nature. The pamering of a landscape with home backyard gardening techiques can practically keep a landscape on a sort of dependent life support system which is not what you want in your wild project.
I first encountered Pinus eldarica in Sedona Arizona in 1974 at Topper Tree Farm. The common name given it back then was Mondell Pine after the man who apparently identified it. There was an article in the San Diego Union in spring of 1974 that just drew me to Sedona. First time I ever saw the place. Topper Tree Farm also did quite a bit of Forestry contracts with growing Arizona variety of Ponderosa Pine. I remember that they were promoting this tree to be grown in waste high desert areas of Nevada and Mojave Deserts to be replacing other native North American trees as a source of pulp wood for paper production.
The tree farm also was growing, packaging in 1 gallon pots with protective container around the seedling to Saudi Arabia for around $15 ea which was huge money back then. I tried researching for any info on the planting program they were supposed to do in their western mountains along the Red Sea, but found nothing. With what we now know, any project that does NOT have a good mycorrhizal inoculant program where such fungi does not exist is doomed to failure. Too bad, as they were looking to increase their cloud formation and rainfall by planting more vegetation. Great idea, but not enough info on how to care for them in establishment.
Hope you get your answers soon.
Kevin
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Your other guest look like Tarantula Hawks.
ReplyDeleteOn another Afghan pine note. This paper comes from the Arizona Extension Service:
Comandra Blister Rust & Pinus eldarica
BASTARD TOADFLAX
Native to Southwest
While I'm not sure of your actual situation, other trees will actually split trunks, but often as a result of frost or sun scalding where the yound trunk may be exposed by pruning and on the side facing the south and west. Let it heal and monitor it and report back.
I'm curious, what are all the varying types of trees you planted in your dry wash Oasis ? Do you know what or how may feet below the surface the water table level is under the ground ? Are there any other nearby natural Oasis close at hand to inspect what type of vegetation exists there ? Sorry, I just take into consideration many things and I have far more questions in my head than necessary, but always curious. Maybe one day I'll visit your glen.
Kevin
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Your diagnosis has the ring of truth to it. I think the tree damage is drought related. The tree doesn't get much water. There's no water table. You could dig down for thousands of feet and not hit water. No other nearby oases. The vegetation that grows in the arroyo is just juniper, hackberry, desert willow, persimmon, soapberry, acacias, etc. But that's all dying due to the drought. I think if it doesn't rain real soon most everything will die. Come visit.
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