Have you experienced an explosion of miniature pine trees in your yard this spring?
At a recent Master Gardener meeting, one of our members explained that there is a reason for this occurrence; this is a "mast year" for pine trees in our area.
The term "mast" refers to the fruits or nuts of forest trees. This definition can also include winged seeds from trees such as elm, maple, and pine.
There are two categories of mast: hard mast such as acorns and walnuts, and soft mast such as crabapples and blueberries. The seeds of pine trees fall into the hard mast category. Both types of mast are an important food source for animals.
"Masting" or "mast seeding" are terms used to describe times when a higher than usual amount of mast is produced by a species of plants. A year in which this phenomenon occurs is called a "mast year".
Mast years are used by Mother Nature to assure that enough seeds escape predation to grow to maturity.
So there you have it!
We literally have been invaded by pine tree seedlings and now you know why!
Love ya'll,
Shelli
Who leaves the pine-tree, leaves his friend,
Unnerves his strength, invites his end.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
No comments:
Post a Comment