#2974 "Dead Pines on White Pine Island"

#2974 "Dead Pines on White Pine Island"
16 x 20 by 3/4 profile depth (inches).
Started 9:00 am Saturday, August 18th, 2025 

"No tree becomes rooted and sturdy unless many a wind assails it. For by its very tossing it tightens its grip and plants its roots more securely; the fragile trees are those that have grown in a sunny valley".  Seneca, Roman philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c. 4 BCE – 65 CE)

These trunks were standing dead White Pines the previous autumn, but a winter storm had pushed them over. I was saddened to see them toppled. Those old trees had finally met their match in wind and weather. The two trunks leaning into the water would provide opportunities for fish and turtles, and a host of other creatures. but they 

White Pines typically tower above the rest of the forest canopy - a constant reminder of the strength required to cope with life's challenges. Even in death, the White Pine endures, providing life for others. 

Among the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy), White Pine is revered as the "Tree of Peace." According to their traditions, a great peacemaker travelled among the warring tribes of the Northeast, uniting them under a message of peace and creating what became known as the Great Law of Peace. The clusters of five needles represent the five nations of the Haudenosaunee, and so the White Pine was chosen as a symbol of this unity. Their weapons were buried under the White Pine, symbolizing an end to conflict and the dawn of harmony. There are five letters in the word "White", while Red Pines are identified by clusters of three needles. 

Beyond peace, the tree's needles, bark, and resin hold a multitude of medicinal benefits that have been used for generations to support respiratory health, boost immunity, and bring comfort to the body. The folklore of White Pine includes stories of healing and resilience. 

Some examples:

• White Pine needles are rich in vitamin C, making them an excellent choice for an immune-boosting tea. Indigenous people across the Northeast have brewed this tea to ward off sickness during the cold winter months, using its warmth and strength to protect against colds and respiratory ailments. This tea was also a vital source of nourishment, preventing scurvy in early European settlers who had no other source of vitamin C during the harsh winters. 
• The resin, or sap, of the White Pine can be applied to wounds and infections to encourage healing. The resin contains natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Folk herbalists in early America adopted these practices, applying White Pine resin to treat infections, draw out splinters, and soothe irritated skin. 
• Poultices were made from the antiseptic crushed inner bark for cuts, wounds, burns, and boils.

White pines are important for many other species as well!

• Black bears use large white pines for shade, shelter, and as a safe place for their cubs to hide while the mother forages. Bears also use the rough bark of white pines for scent-marking or "blazing" to communicate with other bears. Bear scent and White Pine resin are shared between the bears and the tree, which becomes an important signpost.  
• Mature white pine trees are a preferred nesting site for bald eagles and ospreys. There are several such trees on Singleton Lake.
• White pines also offer food and shelter for red squirrels, porcupines, and warblers... plus many more species we are still learning about.

Simply, tall White Pines provide structural diversity in a forest, creating unique habitats that wouldn't exist otherwise. 

The following collage of in-progress photographs illustrates a few of the steps taken to complete the story of  #2974 "Dead Pines on White Pine Island". 

 The painting was nearing completion on the Studio easel below. 

White pines are a precious part of the forest. Nurturing these trees into their old age of 500 to 600 years would be wonderful for all of nature while sequestering a lot of carbon at the same time. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels or go straight to the Collections. Here is the new Wet Paint 2024 Collection. 

Warmest regards and keep your paddle in the water,

Phil Chadwick