It is not so much for its beauty 
that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, 
as for that subtle something, 
that quality of air that emanation from old trees, 
that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit. 
~Robert Louis Stevenson

This handsome tree is a Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis).  Its fragrance is distinctively Chrismas-ey, and its boughs reminded us of Christmas wreaths.

With its wrinkles, convolutions, bark seams and twists, and beautiful color bands and patterns, this tree has lots of ... character! Withstanding freezing temperatures, winds, poor soil and low moisture, it is a most extraordinarily hardy tree.

With its massive trunk and furrowed, shaggy bark, it is often mistaken for Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens).  

Hanging in loose strands, its fibrous bark was used by Native Americans to make simple skirts and loincloths, ropes and sandals. They gathered the cone-berries for food and carved its wood for tools.

These days, Western Juniper shavings are used for pet bedding, as it is considered environmentally friendly with claims of controlling pests, promoting healthy coats and durability.  Its berries are used to flavor gin, and its essential oils are used for flavoring or scenting agents in medicines, beverages, condiments, aerosols, insecticides, soaps, men's cosmetics and incense.

Western juniper seed cones or cone-berries are an important winter food source for migratory birds such as the American Robin, Acorn Woodpeckers and Steller's Jays. 

The foliage and cone-berries of western juniper are important foods for a number of mammals.  Mule deer, elk, mountain cottontail, and coyote consume western juniper cone-berries.

Western Juniper provides perching and nesting sites for birds, as well as cover and hibernation sites for small mammals.  Decadent trees provide nesting cavities for mountain chickadees and mountain bluebirds, and hibernation sites for several species of bats. 

>> Western Juniper and Mountain Mahogany Woodlands

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