Québec Trees in the Summer

Introduction: Fighting the Sun

In the three months from June to August, the forest experiences a period of wild growth. Some trees, such as young quaking aspens, can grow as fast as corn at a rate of two centimetres a day. The girth of white spruce trees can expand by three centimetres in just a few weeks.

Trees compete fiercely. Those that can, such as hardwoods, aim for the sky. Others spread out, trying to take up as much room as possible. As soon as any room opens up, such as after harvesting, a fire, or in a field left fallow, scattered seeds sprout and attempt to establish themselves. If a species shows signs of weakness, another will soon take its place.

From the tree's point of view, there's no more crucial resource than sunlight. In fact, access to sunlight is a question of life or death. Each species develops its own strategy to win its share of life-giving light.

(Adapted from André Croteau's Guide de la forêt québécoise, saison par saison, Éditions de l'Homme.)