The Torrey Pine

The Torrey Pine: "What is special about a Torrey pine? It's not the rarest pine in the world. The Dalat pine is. It isn't even the rarest tree in California. That's the Monterey cypress. The Torrey pine doesn't grow to a great size like a redwood. It doesn't grow to a great age like a bristlecone pine. It isn't known for excellent lumber like a sugar pine. Torrey pine wood is brittle, rots easily, and doesn't even make a good fire. The Torrey pine doesn't even have the dubious distinction of being endangered. So, 'what's special about a Torrey pine?' The Torrey pines along the sea cliffs suffer from persistent drought. Their roots are growing in poor sand which can hardly be called 'soil'. The trees are blasted by storms and cooked in the sun. Some trees die, but the species lives stubbornly on. some trees, like some people, develop character during hard times. That's what I think is special about the Torrey pine..." I was feeling a bit nostalgic for San Diego and looked up the Torrey Pine. Amy's roomate had a Torrey Pine hat from the golf course and I liked the name and the image of the tree. If you are ever in San Diego, check out the Torrey Pines.