Sunday, March 14, 2010

Scrub Pines on Cape Cod


Its funny how things can grow on you. We moved to the Cape in the late 70's and spent a year in a house on Main Street Osterville that Oak & Ivory now occupies. The back yard was 90% scrub pines and walking on the ground seemed like it could have been another planet. It was covered in pine needles and lichen and felt like you were walking on a sponge. Many of the scrub pine trees were half dead and small branches littered the ground still clinging to pine cone clusters. I remeber thinking at the time these were the ugliest trees I had ever seen. Many a yard were like that as well, native to the Cape, these trees were everywhere. Well that back yard is now a warehouse building and a parking lot. Many of the scrub pine back yards have been upgraded with manicured lawns, stone patios, and expensive plantings. Last week we spent a little time walking the trails up at the National Seashore in Ptown. Walking thru the groves of scrub pines brought me back and made me realize that I miss those silly old ugly trees. More that than, I miss a yard that didnt need to be maintained!