Trees on the Meseta

[Karen Mallory]

well, in my part of the world (Canadian prairies) trees planted on the north
side of anything would be as a shelter belt to protect from the wind and to
capture snow which then helps with soil moisture retention.  Any chance the
north planted trees in Spain have a similar function?


----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Spenger" <rspengeraEARTHLINK.NET>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 9:18 AM
Subject: Re: Trees on the Meseta


> What struck me about the trail side trees in 2000 was that on some
> stretches the trees were planted on the north side and thus would
> provide no shade whatever, unless you wanted to stop and stand off to
> one side for a while. I didn't notice this in 2002, so perhaps the
> north side trees had been removed. The tree lined area that I remember
> best is the section leaving Logroño, which had been paved with cement
> and had benches every 50 or 100 meters. I never did see anyone sitting
> on any of the benches. As I remember, the trees on that section were on
> the south where they might do some good in a few years - if they
> survive and grow big enough.
>
> regards,
>
> Bob S.
>
> On Sep 2, 2004, at 10:00 PM, E. O. Pederson wrote:
>
> >
> > There is a long stretch of the Camino near Burgo Ranero where trees
> > were
> > planted in the 1980s-early 1990s. Their spacing is presumably to ensure
> > shade for pilgrims walking during the blistering months of summer and
> > at
> > least a little protection from the winds of autumn and winter. I have
> > not
> > walked in blistering heat, but walking in the strong winds of autumn,
> > the
> > trees provided little protection. Long-term survival of those trees is
> > problematic. Between 1998 and 2001 I noticed that a number had
> > succumbed
> > to weather or disease.
> >