Lodgepole Pine

Many years ago (at least 15) we got a seedling of a lodgepole pine from the Forest Service. After it suffered several moose attacks, we surrounded it with a wire cage until it was tall enough that they lost interest in it. Now it produces these most interesting cones and what I think are called "candles," which have tiny pink flowers at the top (extra photo). This is unlike any other tree here, although there are no pine trees indigenous to this part of Alaska - they are all types of spruce.