Naturally Curly

One of the iconic native trees we particularly enjoy is the Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), often simply called "madrona," which can be found along the west coast of North America from British Columbia to California. The madrona's wide-spread roots provide excellent erosion control and enable the trees to grow near beaches and along rocky outcrops and dry bluffs.

A broad-leafed evergreen tree, the madrona can reach two centuries in age and 75 feet (23 meters) in height, although 30 to 50 feet (9 to 15 meters) is more common. It is probably best known for its beautiful coppery brown paper-like bark, which peels when mature and often forms charming curls, as seen above. The exposed wood is smooth and lovely to touch.

I left for my yoga class in Fairhaven this afternoon a little early so I could walk over before class to the small stand of madronas that Phil and I visited recently and he blipped. That experience made me confident that I'd be able to find a Blip subject there as well, which was indeed the case. It was lovely to stand in the sunshine examining all of the likely curls!

(Here's a view of peeling bark on part of a branch, and this provides a longer view of the tree.)