Pinus edulis a.k.a. Two‐leaf Piñon , Two‐needle Piñon also, pinyon

This is the predominant tree here, at least on the North end of the Mesa. The pine nuts are enjoyed by many animals, including the two-leggeds. We haven’t harvested them yet. But when we do, we’ll let you know what we think.

We have 2 species of Piñon here at La Casa Del Sol. The Colorado (Two-leaf) Piñon and the Mexican Piñon. The bundles of the Colorado Piñon consist of 2 singularly colored needles per. Whereas the Mexican Piñon has generally 2 with the occasional 3 variegated needles per bundle.

The more yellow-tinted looser branches of the Mexican Pine appear to always reach upward. The darker Colorado Piñon has it’s branches generally in a very tight mass.

In the featured photo, both Piñons are visible, the Colorado Piñon is in the back and the Western Piñon is the one holding a small Dark-eyed, Pink-sided Junco on it’s branch.

A few years back, we were driving up the mountain and kept seeing cars pulled off the side of the road. We probably saw about six altogether when we finally saw people. There was a man on his cell phone, standing rather close to the road and we saw a woman over by a tree just ‘beating the piss out of the tree‘ with a really big stick. That’s how we described it later because it was absolutely the best description of the situation.

We pulled up along side of the man and asked him, what’s going on today? The guy held the phone away from his mouth and said, “I’m sorry. What?” Joe pointed towards the woman and said, “What is she doing please?” The man looked back over his shoulder at the woman and then looked at Joe and said, “She’s prayin.'”

Turns out, the piñons were ripe, everyone was up here harvesting. Apparently, you beat the hell out of the tree and it drops its nuts on the white sheet you lay under it…… I’ll try to find a more gentle way.