The Juniper
0
The mountain climate here is challenging to living organisms. Weather changes are rapid - sunshine and heat can quite suddenly be replaced with rain, wind and snow. Summers are short and temperatures low. We humans can adapt by dressing in thick, warm clothes, and even animals can find shelter from the wind or fly south when winter comes. Plants, however, rooted in the ground, remain exposed to the climate. The oldest juniper on record is a 1070-year-old juniper shrub in Northern Finland, while the tallest juniper registered in Norway was 17.5 meters tall and grew in Idd, Østfold. The juniper bushes you see here are smaller than the juniper you see in the lowlands and abroad. Their lower growth means less exposure to heavy winds and snow. The juniper is an evergreen and does not lose its pointed needle-shaped leaves in the winter. That means it can start producing nutrients in early springtime, without waiting for new leaves to grow. The berries are cone-shaped with a soft shell and need two years to mature. It is a common spice in Scandinavia, used in soups, stews and for adding flavor to gin.