{"id":27487,"date":"2021-02-19T17:44:51","date_gmt":"2021-02-19T16:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=27487"},"modified":"2024-03-16T10:49:12","modified_gmt":"2024-03-16T09:49:12","slug":"spruce-in-the-garden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=27487","title":{"rendered":"Norway spruce in my garden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This is a long post to document the importance of Norway spruce, <em>gran<\/em> in norwegian (Picea abies) in my garden. All pictures shown are taken in the garden.<br \/>Milder weather has arrived with strong southerly winds and the garden around the twin spruce trees was covered in fallen spruce needles (video below), something which is only obvious when there&#8217;s snow on the ground. Norway spruce (<em>Picea abies)<\/em> needles live for only a few years before being shed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 790px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-27487-1\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Pine_needle_shed.mp4?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Pine_needle_shed.mp4\">http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Pine_needle_shed.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 790px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-27487-2\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Spruce_inthe_garden.mp4?_=2\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Spruce_inthe_garden.mp4\">http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Spruce_inthe_garden.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<p>Pairs of spruce trees had been planted by the previous owners in the 1940s-1950s in four different parts of the garden and about 5 others have appeared,\u00a0 presumably self-sown from the original plantings, although gran (Norwegian name) is a common forest tree in this area and an important economic species. Only one of the original pairs still exist as I felled them to make room for a\u00a0 diversity of fruit and berries and because of an area of the garden had been attacked by an aggresive form of honey fungus (honningsopp) (see below). Despite finding honey fungus on the roots of the oldest two trees maybe twenty years ago they still seem to be in good health. On my exposed hilltop they&#8217;ve survived extreme winds, particularly Storm Dagmar at Xmas 2011 which felled large numbers of trees also in this area. The film below was put together from a series of still pictures some hours after the storm peak that destroyed my greenhouse; see <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=18189\"><strong>https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=18189<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 790px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-27487-3\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Film-of-spruce.mp4?_=3\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Film-of-spruce.mp4\">http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Film-of-spruce.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This Google Street view picture from before Dagmar in 2010 shows the intact greenhouse and the pair of remaining oldest spruce trees and a couple of younger self-sown trees to the right (the yellow shed is in the neighbour&#8217;s garden). <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-27554 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2010_Garden_View_Street_View.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1293\" height=\"678\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2010_Garden_View_Street_View.jpg 1293w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2010_Garden_View_Street_View-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2010_Garden_View_Street_View-1024x537.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2010_Garden_View_Street_View-768x403.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2010_Garden_View_Street_View-640x336.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1293px) 100vw, 1293px\" \/><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27723\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27723\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27723 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/DJI_0200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/DJI_0200.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/DJI_0200-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/DJI_0200-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/DJI_0200-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27723\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Drone picture of the garden with the spruce trees on the far left (picture taken by Andrew McMillion on 30th July 2020)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There used to be two spruce trees to the south east of and quite close to the house but they were felled when I was terracing below the house in the 90s. We found that the trees were growing on an old rubbish tip with a lot of organic material as nettles grew prolifically here.\u00a0<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-27558 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E553-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"557\" height=\"942\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E553-1.jpg 557w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E553-1-177x300.jpg 177w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 557px) 100vw, 557px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-27559\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E554-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"627\" height=\"908\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E554-1.jpg 627w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E554-1-207x300.jpg 207w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px\" \/> &#8230;and one of original two on the western boundary next to the outhouse:<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-27555 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E580.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"888\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E580.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E580-203x300.jpg 203w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>Large numbers of wood mushroom \/ sn\u00f8ballsjampinjong (<em>Agaricus sylvicola<\/em>) and a few blushing wood mushroom \/ blodsjampinjong (<em>Agaricus sylvaticus)\u00a0<\/em>have grown under these spruce trees for many years. They are saprobic, living on decaying and dead spruce needles. The best trees were those by the outhouse (last picture above), but we had to take this one down as the neighbour was afraid it would fall over their house or the power cable. They also grew in large amounts around the remaining two spruce trees (pictures below) but I haven&#8217;t seen them for several years at the same time that hedge mustard \/ l\u00f8kurt (<em>Alliaria petiolata<\/em>) invaded this area and I wonder if the allelopathic chemicals in this plant have impacted and killed the mushrooms. I have therefore been systematically removing the hedge mustard from the this area in the hope that the mushrooms will return. It&#8217;s amazing to think that those fallen spruce needles that we started with can transform into delicious food for us!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27596\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27596\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27596\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4295654.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4295654.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4295654-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4295654-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4295654-640x854.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27596\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Invading <em>Alliaria petiolata<\/em> in the dry soil under the spruce trees.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27568 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1197.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1197.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1197-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1197-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1197-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27567 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1158.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1158.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1158-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1158-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1158-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27566 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1160.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1160.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1160-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1160-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1160-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27565 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1164.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1164.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1164-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1164-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_1164-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><br \/>Another edible fungi associated with spruce once appeared in the garden; <em>Lactarius deterrimus<\/em> (false saffron milkcap \/ granmatriske):<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27588 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233616.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233616.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233616-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233616-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233616-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27589\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233618.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233618.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233618-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233618-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233618-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27590\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233620.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233620.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233620-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233620-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8233620-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Ethnobotany of Spruce<br \/><\/em><\/strong>There are numerous food uses of Norway spruce to be found in the ethnobotanical literature. The inner bark has been used to make bark bread in the past in bad years; the immature cones have been cooked, the seed\u00a0 have been eaten by children raw, the young shoots have been used to make tea and beer (and in modern times to make a sweetened drink), the needles have been used in the French\/ Swiss cheeses Vacherin d&#8217;Abondance\/ Vacherin Mont d&#8217;Or and the resin or gum (kvae) has been used as a chewing gum:<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-27487 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27671'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020342-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-27671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020342-2.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020342-2-300x266.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-27671'>\n\t\t\t\tThere are small amounts of resin (kvae) to be found on my oldest trees in cracks in the bark and, here, where I&#8217;d cut off one of the lowest branches)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27670'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020343-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020343-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020343-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020343-2-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020343-2-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27672'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1065\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020341-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020341-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020341-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020341-2-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020341-2-768x1022.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020341-2-640x852.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Other uses<br \/><\/em><\/strong>I&#8217;ve used the wood of the felled trees of course to heat the house and the ash has been used for various purposes. A stump has also served as a chopping block for many years. I&#8217;ve also used branches to insulate and stop leaves from blowing away from areas of the garden like my sea kale bed that need winter protection:<br \/><br \/><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27677\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27677\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27677 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3034515.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3034515.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3034515-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3034515-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3034515-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27677\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Spruce used to keep leaves in place (my blackberry is underneath)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27674\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27674\" style=\"width: 1922px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27674 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020363-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1922\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020363-scaled.jpg 1922w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020363-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020363-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020363-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020363-1153x1536.jpg 1153w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020363-1538x2048.jpg 1538w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020363-640x852.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1922px) 100vw, 1922px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27674\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Used for splitting firewood<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em><strong>The importance of spruce for birds in my garden<\/strong><\/em><br \/>The\u00a0 two oldest spruce trees are also extremely important for many bird species both as an excellent song post, the top being the highest point in the garden, and a place with a good view of approaching predators. Both chffinches (bokfink), robin (r\u00f8dstrupe), blackbird (svarttrost), dunnock (jernspurv), nuthatch (spettmeis), greenfinches (gr\u00f8nnfink), brambling (bj\u00f8rkefink), redwings (r\u00f8dvingetrost), chiffchaff (gransanger; the Norwegian name meaning &#8220;spruce singer&#8221;), various tits, notably coal tit (svartmeis) and others sing from these trees. Here&#8217;s one video of a brambling singing and various links below to other posts I&#8217;ve made over the years of birds on these trees..<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 790px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-27487-4\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Brambling2.mp4?_=4\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Brambling2.mp4\">http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Brambling2.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27571\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27571\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27571 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1580248-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1580248-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1580248-1-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1580248-1-768x538.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1580248-1-640x448.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27571\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Spring gathering of starlings (st\u00e6r) in one of my trees<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Treecreeper and goldcrests are sometimes seen foraging in the spruce trees in winter, hosting favourite hiding places for numerous insects.\u00a0 Here&#8217;s a recent blog post of a winter goldcrest: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=27332\">https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=27332<\/a><br \/>Some birds cache nuts and seeds for winter in trees like spruce and others may accidentally discover this and raid the caches.<br \/>On warm winter days, waxwings (sidensvans) can often be seen hawking after insects from the tree tops. Various species also nest in my spruces, most obviously magpies (skj\u00e6re) and hooded crows (kr\u00e5ke).<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 790px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-27487-5\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Waxwings-spruce-1.mp4?_=5\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Waxwings-spruce-1.mp4\">http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Waxwings-spruce-1.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 790px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-27487-6\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Blackbird_on_gran.mp4?_=6\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Blackbird_on_gran.mp4\">http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Blackbird_on_gran.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<p><em>A blackbird (svarttrost) above showing off its improvisational and mimicking skills atop a spruce tree this morning! It&#8217;s been a bit too cold for much song activity over the last couple of weeks, but it&#8217;s slightly warmer today with a maximum of 7C this first day of May.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27575\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27575\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27575 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1050343.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1050343.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1050343-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1050343-768x520.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1050343-640x434.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27575\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Woodpigeon (ringdue) enjoying the view<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Below is a video of a redwing (r\u00f8dvingetrost) in full song at 1 am on 7th June just 2 weeks away from the longest day!<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 790px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-27487-7\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Redwingat1am.mp4?_=7\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Redwingat1am.mp4\">http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Redwingat1am.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<p><br \/>Then there are specialist species like common crossbill (grankorsnebb) that turn up in &#8220;cone years&#8221; and of course great spotted woodpeckers (flaggspett) are common visitors, particularly in winter, both eating the seeds.<br \/>More videos of birds in my spruce trees:<br \/>Robin singing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=22735\">https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=22735<\/a><br \/>Siberian nutcracker juggling with a nut <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=23661\">https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=23661<\/a> <br \/>Dunnock <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=21847\">https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=21847<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=17325\">https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=17325<\/a> <br \/>Nuthatch and great spotted woodpecker on top <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=16566\">https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=16566<\/a> <br \/>Nutcracker and greenfinch\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=12720\">https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?p=12720<\/a><br \/><br \/>The first dunnock of 2021 atop one of the spruce trees in song this morning (17th April):<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 790px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-27487-8\" width=\"790\" height=\"444\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dunnock.mp4?_=8\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dunnock.mp4\">http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dunnock.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<p><br \/><strong>Flowers, cones, seeds to fungi\u00a0<br \/><\/strong>An album of pictures showing the whole life cycle of flowers to pollen to cones to seed and the afterlife of cones and fallen needles colonised by fungi that give us and other creatures food:<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-27487 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27639'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"856\" height=\"495\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5216537-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-27639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5216537-1.jpg 856w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5216537-1-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5216537-1-768x444.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5216537-1-640x370.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 856px) 100vw, 856px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-27639'>\n\t\t\t\tThe flowers are very pretty close up\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27638'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P6298561-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-27638\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P6298561-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P6298561-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P6298561-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P6298561-1-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-27638'>\n\t\t\t\tSpruce pollen in a water butt in the garden.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27649'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM5409-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-27649\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM5409-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM5409-1-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM5409-1-768x579.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM5409-1-640x482.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-27649'>\n\t\t\t\tTwo generations of cones on my two oldest trees.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27651'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8157191-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-27651\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8157191-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8157191-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8157191-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8157191-1-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-27651'>\n\t\t\t\tTwo generations of cones on my two oldest trees.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27652'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5075838-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-27652\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5075838-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5075838-1-176x300.jpg 176w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-27652'>\n\t\t\t\tFallen cone with shoots of lily of the valley (liljekonvall)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27653'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"826\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5075840-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5075840-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5075840-1-218x300.jpg 218w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27655'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/PA225094-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/PA225094-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/PA225094-1-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27654'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"456\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1050545-1-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-27654\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1050545-1-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1050545-1-1-300x137.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1050545-1-1-768x350.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1050545-1-1-640x292.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-27654'>\n\t\t\t\tWinged spruce seed on snow \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27648'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P9145459-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-27648\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P9145459-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P9145459-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P9145459-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P9145459-1-640x854.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-27648'>\n\t\t\t\tSeedlings pop up here and there in the garde \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27644'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"751\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1940858-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-27644\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1940858-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1940858-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1940858-1-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1940858-1-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-27644'>\n\t\t\t\tMycena plumipes (konglehette) \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27643'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"719\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1940859-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-27643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1940859-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1940859-1-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1940859-1-768x552.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1940859-1-640x460.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-27643'>\n\t\t\t\tMycena plumipes (konglehette) \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27641'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"854\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4238905-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-27641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4238905-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4238905-1-281x300.jpg 281w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4238905-1-768x820.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4238905-1-640x683.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-27641'>\n\t\t\t\tAnother species that I&#8217;ve found growing on spruce cones in the garden is the spruce cone cap \/ grankonglehatt (Strobilurus esculentus) although this is the closely related Strobilurus stephanocystis which grows on pine cones.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27673'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1922\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020360-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-27673\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020360-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020360-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020360-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020360-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020360-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020360-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020360-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-27673'>\n\t\t\t\tI store root crops in damp leaves and other organic debris including cones that I rake up in the garden and I found this fungus on a cone when I went to get a few carrots from the cellar today as I&#8217;m writing this, an unidentified fungus so far.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><br \/><strong><em>Stumps<br \/><\/em><\/strong>Stumps of spruce trees left to rot are also fascinating to follow through the years as they break down slowly helped along the way by fungi and colonised by mosses:<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-27487 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27616'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"799\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020347.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-27616\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020347.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020347-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-27616'>\n\t\t\t\tThis is an over 20 year old spruce stump from a large tree that was growing in an area planted up by the previous owners as an orchard. An aggressive form of honey fungus (honningsopp) attacked the trees including this spruce and killed them one after the other,. I therefore systematically, over several years, dug out all the roots and this big stump so that I could replant in a honeyfungus-free environment. I replanted this area with a diversity of woody shrubs and trees.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27612'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020351.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020351.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020351-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020351-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020351-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27613'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8181419.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-27613\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8181419.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8181419-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8181419-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8181419-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-27613'>\n\t\t\t\tThe tell-tale honey fungus rhizomorphs or mycelial cords\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27614'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1125\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8181420.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-27614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8181420.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8181420-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8181420-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8181420-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P8181420-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-27614'>\n\t\t\t\tThe tell-tale honey fungus rhizomorphs or mycelial cords\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27608'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020359.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020359.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020359-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020359-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020359-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27615'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020352.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020352.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020352-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020352-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020352-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27609'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020358.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-27609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020358.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020358-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020358-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020358-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-27609'>\n\t\t\t\tRed-belted bracket fungus \/ r\u00f8drandkjuke (Fomitopsis pinicola) colonised one of the stumps\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27610'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020356.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-27610\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020356.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020356-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020356-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020356-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-27610'>\n\t\t\t\tRed-belted bracket fungus \/ r\u00f8drandkjuke (Fomitopsis pinicola) colonised one of the stumps\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Hepatica<\/em><\/strong><br \/>I&#8217;m also fortunate having a wild population of <em>Hepatica nobilis<\/em> (bl\u00e5veis) and they often grow in dry soil below younger spruce trees:\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27687\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27687\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27687 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020339-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1065\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020339-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020339-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020339-1-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020339-1-768x1022.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020339-1-640x852.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27687\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>In the foreground are the three-lobed leaves of Hepatica nobilis<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27688 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM7385.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"583\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM7385.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM7385-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM7385-768x560.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM7385-640x466.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><em>In a sunnier spot, Hepatica can flower profusely in early spring<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Storage<\/em><br \/>Under the spruce trees is also a good spot to store pea and bean stakes as it&#8217;s dry.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_27693\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27693\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27693 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P6037214-\u2013-Kopi.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P6037214-\u2013-Kopi.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P6037214-\u2013-Kopi-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-27693\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Stakes for garden use are pretty dry under the shelter of mature spruce trees; small slow growing hazel (picture) and rowan grow closest to the spruce.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27691\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3314917-\u2013-Kopi.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3314917-\u2013-Kopi.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3314917-\u2013-Kopi-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3314917-\u2013-Kopi-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3314917-\u2013-Kopi-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27692\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3314915-\u2013-Kopi.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3314915-\u2013-Kopi.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3314915-\u2013-Kopi-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3314915-\u2013-Kopi-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3314915-\u2013-Kopi-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Growing out of nothing<\/strong><\/em><br \/>It&#8217;s always amazing to see how such large trees grow on hardly any soil and I&#8217;ve noticed how, when removing stumps, how the tree itself has broken up the rock to create deeper soil over time. At the bottom of the garden, the lower two trees grow on even shallower soil and here you see large roots clambering over rocks in search of deeper soil:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27695 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020338.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020338.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020338-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020338-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020338-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27696 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020334.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020334.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020334-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020334-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020334-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27697 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020328.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"751\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020328.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020328-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020328-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020328-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-27694\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020349.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020349.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020349-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020349-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020349-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><br \/><em><strong><br \/>Assorted celestial and other spruce pictures through the years<br \/><\/strong><\/em>A final set of pictures featuring my wonderful spruce trees over the years in various poses with the moon, the sun and a rainbow.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-27487 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27701'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020325.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-27701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020325.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020325-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020325-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020325-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-27701'>\n\t\t\t\tMy oldest twin spruces with a nest box designed for treecreepers (trekryper) &#8211; no, they&#8217;ve never used it\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27702'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020331.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020331.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020331-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020331-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020331-640x481.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27700'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1065\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020345.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020345.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020345-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020345-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020345-768x1022.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P2020345-640x852.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27703'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1610342.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1610342.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1610342-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1610342-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1610342-640x854.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27706'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"805\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590784.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-27706\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590784.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590784-298x300.jpg 298w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590784-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590784-768x773.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590784-640x644.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-27706'>\n\t\t\t\tFull moon through spruce \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27704'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"644\" height=\"618\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590792.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-27704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590792.jpg 644w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590792-300x288.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590792-640x614.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-27704'>\n\t\t\t\tFull moon through spruce \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27705'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590776.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-27705\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590776.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P1590776-300x277.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-27705'>\n\t\t\t\tFull moon through spruce \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27710'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3277285.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3277285.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3277285-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3277285-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3277285-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27712'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4295711.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4295711.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4295711-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4295711-768x423.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P4295711-640x353.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27707'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"834\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3020293.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-27707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3020293.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P3020293-216x300.jpg 216w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-27707'>\n\t\t\t\tReflection of spruce with chilis in the living room\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27708'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1282\" height=\"2096\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/PA208164.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-27708\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/PA208164.jpg 1282w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/PA208164-183x300.jpg 183w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/PA208164-626x1024.jpg 626w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/PA208164-768x1256.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/PA208164-939x1536.jpg 939w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/PA208164-1253x2048.jpg 1253w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/PA208164-640x1046.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1282px) 100vw, 1282px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-27708'>\n\t\t\t\tReflection of spruce with oca (Oxalis tuberosa) that had been moved indoors in October\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27709'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5018153.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5018153.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5018153-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5018153-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P5018153-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27711'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P9243906.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P9243906.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P9243906-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P9243906-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/P9243906-640x854.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27713'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_3296.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-27713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_3296.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_3296-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_3296-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_3296-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-27713'>\n\t\t\t\tThis was the year&#8217;s first sunrise picture\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27714'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM6715-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-27714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM6715-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM6715-2-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM6715-2-768x579.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM6715-2-640x482.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-27714'>\n\t\t\t\tFlowering hazel and spruce\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27715'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1072\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM3511.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-27715\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM3511.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM3511-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM3511-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM3511-768x1029.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/HPIM3511-640x858.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-27715'>\n\t\t\t\tFlowering bird cherry (Prunus padus) and spruce\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27716'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"994\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E577.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-27716\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E577.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E577-181x300.jpg 181w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-27716'>\n\t\t\t\tWinter scene in the late 80s\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=27717'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1236\" src=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E1278.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-27717\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E1278.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E1278-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E1278-663x1024.jpg 663w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E1278-768x1187.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/E1278-640x989.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-27717'>\n\t\t\t\tStump of one of the trees next to the ouhouse after felling. The pencil line shows the how fast it had grown in the 17 years we had lived there (since 1984)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is a long post to document the importance of Norway spruce, gran in norwegian (Picea abies) in my garden. All pictures shown are taken in the garden.Milder [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[2949,4167,4166,1244,1245,510],"class_list":["post-27487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trees","tag-dunnock","tag-gran","tag-picea-abies","tag-redwing","tag-rodvingetrost","tag-the-edible-garden"],"views":9133,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27487"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27487\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32008,"href":"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27487\/revisions\/32008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}