The Mighty Juniper

When most people think of trees, they picture mighty oaks or stately elms or flowering dogwoods ... 

not scruffy junipers that look like overgrown bushes. In many parts of the desert southwest, 

junipers are the only trees that grow, so we make the best of them.

Juniper trees provide great protection from the wind.

This time of year, they also provide plenty of pollen. I'll never forget the first spring I lived at the 7MSN. 

I looked across the pasture one morning and was convinced that every single juniper tree was on fire. 

The smoke was actually pollen exploding in bursts, or pollen bombs as I've come to call them. 

Before I snapped the picture above, I shook the juniper branch just a bit. Poof! Out came the pollen. 

You have no idea how happy I am that I'm not allergic to this stuff.

It's another secret weapon we New Mexicans have for keeping the population in check.

There is one mighty juniper in the corral that the herd loves to gather 'round.

It's big enough to block the wind for all of them...

...regardless of the season or who "them" might be.