Happy Saturday Everyone and for those who celebrate the holiday, a belated Merry Christmas! I think this tree is fitting for today's blog.
This species of
spruce is native to Central and Eastern Europe, though it does grow here in southeastern
Canada. It can grow up to 55 m tall and
is widely planted for its wood and to be used as the main Christmas tree in
several cities around the world. Every
Christmas Oslo, the capital of Norway, provides the cities of New York, London,
Edinburgh and Washington D.C. with a Norway spruce to be placed in their
central square as a thank you for the aid these countries gave during
WWII. The Norway spruce is also an
economically important tree in Europe as they are grown to be ornamental trees
in parks and gardens, and as mentioned before, as Christmas trees.
The Norway
spruce has been reported in the northern US and Canada as invasive in some
areas, but are still a benefit in many ways.
They are used in forestry for timber and paper production, are the
source of spruce beer which was used once to prevent and even cure scurvy, and
are esteemed as a source of tonewood by stringed-instrument makers. This tree is also a great support to a wide
variety of wildlife, as winter cover for deer and small game, and as a roosting
tree for hawks and owls.
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