This month, we introduce a stoic white pine named R.C.M.Pete (but friends just call him Pete). Pete stands on guard in the Scarborough backyard of Laura and Dogmatix, doing double-duty as a home for birds and blocking out the view of an unsightly garage.
Five years ago, when Laura first came to LEAF, she was looking for a tree that would provide some privacy as well as aesthetic inspiration while working from her home office. She now admires Pete’s soft sage green needles and his admirably upright stance. “When I planted it, I really thought that it would grow too slow for me to enjoy, and that I would have moved out of my house long before it doubled in size,” says Laura. “Both are untrue. I get a real kick out of seeing each year’s growth and it has doubled in size after less than five years in the ground.”
While Pete’s friends - the lilac and pear trees - usually get most of the attention for their showy flowers, Pete looks stunning wearing a bright red cardinal. When asked how they felt about the new addition, the pear tree said he was initially worried that the yard would get too cluttered, but admitted that Pete’s pale green needles actually brighten up the space. Lilac also added, “Pete can be a bit of loner, but we can really count on him to protect us from some of those strong winter winds when we go dormant.”
Laura remembers the first year that Pete was planted - he shot up 24 inches. Excited to be in his new home, he wanted to do his best!
Find out more about white pines like Pete.