Joe, I love your tree. The Ponderosa pine is my favorite tree. The patterned rich red-brown bark of the tree is gorgeous.

If and when you get the chance, make a trip to the Ochoco National Forest in central Oregon about 70 miles in the mountains out of Prineville. It is a Ponderosa Pine forest and since nothing grows under the acidic canopy it is like a park under there. And the duff on the forest floor is also something to scuff around in; it is deep and dry and light.

One of the amazing features of the forest is that in places the wilderness has pulled back forming a meadow, enabling a grove of Aspens to blaze a brilliant gold in the Autumn. It is like seeing the sun caught in the branches.