Kinglet in the longleaf

This little golden crowned kinglet didn't budge when we walked right up to him.  He was intently working on the pine branch.  

There was something there that he really wanted.

 

Long leaf

Longleaf pines used to be the dominant pine species in the southeast.  Unfortunately, they are great lumber trees.  They were harvested heavily and now cover only 3% of the original range.

The needles really are long.  Here's a longleaf needle with a Loblolly needle above.  The needles can be 17 inches long and are often used in pine basket weaving.

 

long leaf

A longleaf pine could never be used as a Christmas tree.  The needles can be a foot and a half in length!

They look more like Truffula trees than Christmas trees.

Longleaf

The LongLeaf Pine really does have long leaves.  To me they almost look like hair instead of needles.  They are the unofficial state tree of North Carolina.

Longleaf pines used to cover a wide area of the South, but now, due to clear cutting for timber, only about 3% of the pines are left.  See here.

Longleaf pine

The needles on a longleaf pine are so long they look like fountains of needles.