Ponderosa Pine Microclimate
These two Ponderosa Pines tower over the surrounding Pinon/Junipers. If you look closely you can see the dirt bank behind the near tree. That tells you the Ponderosa is growing down in a wash where there is more water. Special micro-climates like this are how species from the different climate zones intermix at the edges.
This tree has a problem. At some time in it’s early years something killed the growing tip of the tree and two leaders got started. The result is a weak joint with leverage that increases as the tree grows. I’m surprised it has lasted this long without one side tearing away in a high wind.
