deliriouslove1970. The life & times of Gary and Denise Flanders. (Free and worth every penny. If you would like to compliment the editor, send to garytheflan@deliriouslove1970.com. If you would like to complain, call your mother.)

This is the time of year up here in the mountains when the sap is running in our pine trees. California has more varieties of pines than any other state.

One method of identifying a species is to count the number of needles coming out of a branch. If it is a clump you count those needles. A pine with 5 needles in that clump in our area of Southern California, (SoCal) is most likely a Sugar Pine. And, count the letters in the name: SUGAR=5. Sugar Pines have a long cylindrical cone.

These photos were taken on October 10, 2019 next to the Keller Peak Fire Lookout Tower. Elevation 7900.