Treeline in the mirror
No treeline, the mountain is not high enough.

Treeline in the mirror

Which photo has the treeline?

No alt text provided for this image

So, what is a treeline?

Well, Wikipedia can tell you; but the mountains I am looking at are in Switzerland so I’ll refer to the?Department of Geography at the University of Zurich?for the definition of a treeline.

A mountain treeline certainly is not a line in the common sense. The treeline is defined as the high elevation, climate driven limit of tree growth.

The treeline is the edge of the habitat at which trees are capable of growing. It is found at high elevations. Beyond the treeline, trees cannot tolerate the environmental conditions (usually cold temperatures, extreme snowpack, or associated lack of available moisture).

It is easy to get into the weeds discussing the geographical, botanical and topographical details of a treeline. Just look at the images above for a general idea and the graphic below for a summary.

No alt text provided for this image

But where does the mirror fit in?

A treeline is natural. It tells about interactions between ecotypes. And that makes me think. Is the treeline a vector or raster? Is it a thin line, a narrow path one pixel wide or is it a broad and wide line with varying gradients, blurs and opacities?

I think the latter. And looking in the mirror at treelines, I wonder…are human cultures like environmental ecotypes? Are they definable on their edges by lines? Raster or vector? Is diversity our strength…or our weakness…or is the effort to define cultural differences a non-sequitur?

***

In my book,?Tangier Gardens, CJ faced incredible cultural challenges.

The Tangier gardens saved that young man from the relentless, brutal challenges issued by the northwest Africa landscape. It’s an intriguing story about culture, design and humans.?

Give it a go.

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Ed Flaherty的更多文章

  • That Cloud Leads Where?

    That Cloud Leads Where?

    In life, natural things have always attracted me, so I look for them and write about them. I am a nature lover and a…

  • Reached your peak yet?

    Reached your peak yet?

    Have you reached your peak in your career? Have you even tried? Take on the challenges--that’s what life is for! CJ…

  • Edward Flaherty--50yrs Landscape Architect

    Edward Flaherty--50yrs Landscape Architect

    Landscape Middle East, August 2022 issue, featured my reflections on a 50 year landscape architecture career in the USA…

  • Nature? Weird Fiction? Landscape Architecture?

    Nature? Weird Fiction? Landscape Architecture?

    I am on a hunt. For genre, for references.

  • 3 for 1--a good deal

    3 for 1--a good deal

    3 for 1--a good deal: FREE and available now at Vella here-->https://tinyurl.com/3fhvpdsd *** And coming next week…

  • First job, new job

    First job, new job

    Disruption… Where risk meets opportunity… Choose your own path and follow it. The path may not be straight or even…

  • They just make me happy

    They just make me happy

    Lime or linden? I don't go out looking for trees--but when I'm out sometimes they call me. This year the Tilia trees'…

  • Spring primrose

    Spring primrose

    At 2,000 meters above sea level, in the northern range of the Swiss Alps, I rediscovered the spring joy I had…

  • Fantasy landscaping

    Fantasy landscaping

    Fantasy landscaping? My work in the United Arab Emirates definitely could be identified as fantasy landscaping. In…

  • Lilac Sunday

    Lilac Sunday

    A long time ago--an embarassing number of years--more than you need to know, I worked at the Arnold Arboretum of…

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了