Two stunted pines (Ponderosa) stuck to an unforgiving granite wall.
Where their parent seeds fell, that's where they sprouted many years ago.
Although they will never achieve the height and girth of their parent tree, yet they make very fine ornamentals for a richly colored granite.
Like grownup banzai trees.
And the manzanita adds augmenting decoration of a more subtle nature.

I had been shooting some other things from a tripod when I spotted this scene.
Forgot my camera settings and just snapped the shot handheld.
In spite of the mistake, it turned out not too badly and it does represent some of my feelings about such places.
Just glad to see such things.
Angky.

[MikeNArk]

That's a steep rock face for anything to grow on. I guess the cracks and crevices in the rock provide enough space tor a foot hold. It would be interesting to monitor the growth of the Ponderosa pines to see how they progress. This is good photo which shows the terrain beautifully. The colors look spot on. Thank goodness for shack reduction. Thanks for sharing the image and narrative. I always enjoy both.

[rhanz]

Two stunted pines (Ponderosa) stuck to an unforgiving granite wall.
Where their parent seeds fell, that's where they sprouted many years ago.
Although they will never achieve the height and girth of their parent tree, yet they make very fine ornamentals for a richly colored granite.
Like grownup banzai trees.
And the manzanita adds augmenting decoration of a more subtle nature.

I had been shooting some other things from a tripod when I spotted this scene.
Forgot my camera settings and just snapped the shot handheld.
In spite of the mistake, it turned out not too badly and it does represent some of my feelings about such places.
Just glad to see such things.
Angky.

Great picture and I learned something.

[Janse]

Well spotted, nice!

[ToddK]

Excellent shot Angky. I really like the colors with the rust-colored granite as a backdrop to the greens of the small trees and manzanita. Although these pines may be stunted, their roots are working away at that granite and may even cause some of it to break away.

[Sailor]

An optimistic message! Life cab thrive if it has the will.

Jer

[angkymac]

That's a steep rock face for anything to grow on. I guess the cracks and crevices in the rock provide enough space tor a foot hold. It would be interesting to monitor the growth of the Ponderosa pines to see how they progress. This is good photo which shows the terrain beautifully. The colors look spot on. Thank goodness for shack reduction. Thanks for sharing the image and narrative. I always enjoy both.

Yes, the Pentax in-camera stabilization is a real blessing for me a lot of times. In this shot, I had to do a little bit of sharpening to reduce blur, but it wasn't too bad.
Glad to know that you enjoyed it.
Angky.

---------- Post added 11-19-22 at 07:24 PM ----------

Great picture and I learned something.

Thanks for the note letting me know you enjoyed it.
From this image, I also learned a bit. I guess that happens just about every time I process an image and really look at it.
Angky.

---------- Post added 11-19-22 at 07:27 PM ----------

Well spotted, nice!

Thank you.
Saying it was "well spotted" seems appropriate because I walked right on past it at first. But for some reason turned back to see what had subconsciously caught my eye.
Angky.

---------- Post added 11-19-22 at 07:30 PM ----------

Excellent shot Angky. I really like the colors with the rust-colored granite as a backdrop to the greens of the small trees and manzanita. Although these pines may be stunted, their roots are working away at that granite and may even cause some of it to break away.

Yes, that granite is a nice reddish color. Usually granite looks gray, but I think it has to do with how long it has seen the sun and the rain.
This is rock that was broken away only a few decades back when they built a nearby dam. Probably back in the mid-twentieth century.
I'm wondering how effective those pine roots will eventually be.
Angky.

---------- Post added 11-19-22 at 07:32 PM ----------

An optimistic message! Life cab thrive if it has the will.

Jer

Yep! Those pines sure don't seem to be bothered very much by somebody telling them that they are living in an inhospitable place!
Angky.