Lodgepole Pine cones

The cones on a Lodgepole Pine turn inwards on the branches, looking towards the trunk of the tree. Just a simple shot but, hey, I am always happy when I get a blurred background, LOL! This is the provincial tree of Alberta. These are female cones, and there are small prickles on the scales of female cones.

"One of the most drought tolerant of our native conifers..... Cones are short cylindrical to egg-shaped, curved away from branches, 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in.) long, remain on trees for many years. Scales armed with a small prickle."
www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex998?

"The most common and abundant tree in the Rocky Mountains and foothill regions. Occurring on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains where it frequently forms dense even-aged stands as the result of fire. In areas adjacent to jack pine, the two species integrate."
www.abtreegene.com/trees.html

plantwatch.fanweb.ca/plant-information/lodgepole-pine/lod...

We were out for a good part of the day today on a beautiful walk, north west of the city, in a huge Provincial Park that is yet not open to the public (and probably won't be for another 1-3 years?). It's called the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park and is incredibly beautiful land. Will add a link to information about it when I get home this evening - I'm about to dash out down a few gravel backroads : ) I can't take one more step, so driving a car sounds just what I need. Rain and cloud are in the forecast for the next four days, and the sun that I saw ten minutes ago seems to have already disappeared. Better dash out while it is still dry.