Douglas fir

Douglas fir - is an evergreen conifer of the Pinaceae genus. It is also known under the following names: Douglas, Duglasieva fir, Douglas yalytsya (Ukr), lzhettsuga tissolistaya, Menziesa Douglas (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Pseudo-tsuga, Pseudotsuga, Douglas-fir (Eng). It is mentioned in some literature sources that this conifer is often erroneously called P. Taxifolia. The tree is named after the Scottish botanist David Douglas (1799-1834). Douglas fir is a relict tree. It grows in North America, Europe and Asia. Some species grow in Mexico. The life expectancy is up to 500 years. The average height varies from 20 to 100 meters, although some specimens can reach the height of 120 meters. Such examples were growing near the American town Mineral in Washington State. The average diameter is 1-2 meters, and only occasionally it can reach up to 4 meters. Douglas fir “is afraid” of spring and autumn frosts or prolonged drought, however, it is very undemanding in soil.

Douglas fir needles are very similar to the ones of a classic fir. Cones are easy to recognize due to their small "tridents", located above (below) each scale. Regarding the "scales", there exists a fantastic legend of the North American Indians. According to the legend, these little "tridents", are nothing else but mouse tails with two legs on their sides. Allegedly, during a flattering fires mice were hiding from the flames in the cones and Douglas fir were so kind as to provide them with “small firm shelter”.

Douglas fir is an introductional genus in Transcarpathia. The first experiments with the engraftment of this type began in the times of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The researches have shown that this species may easily grow in our region. The Empire in those days had planted several experimental plantations, but had not completed the researches because of its disintegration. I personally know two large-scale plantations. One is located deep in the mountains on the border of the Uzhgorod and the Perechyn areas. It is very difficult to get to due to the remoteness and the need to take permission from the guards. The permission should be given because the plantation is located close to the border with Slovakia. To get there one should go on the road, pass the “Khrushchev's cottage” and the border outpost, and then walk another five kilometers in the direction of the mountain Poprichny-Top (995 m). I know several employees of Uzhgorod State Forestry, who regularly visit the plantation and call it “the elite stands of Douglas fir”. The second plantation is located in half an hour's walk from the village of Turi Remety. There are some “cool” sites on a mountainous road to the plantation, but the distance is no longer than two miles, gaining only the 200 meters height. It begins on the bank of the former “remeta” channel, not far from the former “second hydroelectric power station”. The plantation is located in the reserved tracts “Roztoky”, occupying a territory of 430 hectares. This area is very beautiful. The mountain, on which the Douglas firs grow, is on the one side surrounded by natural boundary with saplings of trees, on the other side there are the stream and the road along which once was a narrow-gauge railway. The plantation itself is located above the village on the top of a 350-meter-high hill and occupies the area of 10 hectares.

Actually, it all started in 1906, when the Austro-Hungarians planted 2 hectares of Douglas firs as an experiment. Now it has about 400 trees, 25-30 meters tall, numbered and protected under the Laws of Ukraine. There is a hiking trail marked here from the stream to the plantation. But it is better to go up to it from the opposite side of the mountain - the scenery and landscape are elegant there.

This is how the crowns of firs look from a clearing about 300 meters from the plantation.



And this is a young tree on the approach to plantation.



Here we see the edge of the plantation. You can see that the stems have a reddish tinge.



And this picture has been taken at the distance of 100 meters from the edge. These trees look gorgeous and magnificent.



Look at the density of plantings. Although it might seem as a chaos, a strict “schematics” can be noticed there.



The trunks are very powerful and massive. They have been numbered by local foresters for security purposes.



The edge is covered with a “carpet” of the wide variety of flora ... If you are interested, in the photo below we see the Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias). I might be mistaken about the subspecies, but according to one of the definitions, this is a “cypress” one.



Everything here is so beautiful, quiet, calm, and fresh...



Incidentally, for those who are a bit lazy, and do not want to walk with their friends in the fresh air to the plantations of Douglas fir over the village of Turi Remety, I can offer a “walkaround”. Go to the center of Uzhgorod, ask some knowledgeable of its history people, where the “Wine Cellar” is. If the answer is correct, it must lead you to the triangular area in front of the building of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Come to this park and take a look around. There is an old building of the 18th century standing in front of the City Hall and the medical facility adjacent to the building of the SBU. The left part of it, if you stand your back against the SBU building, is an abandoned basement, where wine had been stored at the times of the Soviet Union. Almost opposite to the entrance to this basement there is a pass into the square through the concrete parapet. On both sides of this pass there are two evergreen trees. The one which is the nearest to the city-center is the Douglas fir. Find it – and you will see how it looks.

02.06.2010. 10:07

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