Arkansas State Tree: Loblolly Pine

State Trees 1 Minute

How to Identify the Loblolly Pine

The loblolly pine has several distinctive features that make it easy to recognize once you know what to look for.

Needles in bundles of three, typically 6 to 9 inches long.

Cones usually 3 to 6 inches long with a slightly rounded shape, often with small prickles on the scales.

Bark on mature trees is thick and deeply furrowed, with reddish-brown plates; younger trees have smoother, flaky bark.

A straight trunk with a conical crown in young trees; older specimens develop a broader crown and can become irregular.

Height at maturity typically 60 to 100 feet in natural stands; plantation-grown trees may exceed 100 feet under ideal conditions.

Ecological and Economic Importance

Loblolly pine plays major roles both ecologically and economically.

Wildlife habitat: Provides cover and nesting sites for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife; seeds are food for small mammals and birds.

Erosion control: Fast early growth and extensive root systems help stabilize soil on disturbed and sloping sites.

Timber and pulp: Loblolly is the backbone of the southern timber industry–used for lumber, plywood, pulp, and biomass.

Carbon sequestration: Its rapid growth makes loblolly valuable for carbon capture in reforestation and timber production.

Understanding these roles helps prioritize care actions that preserve both tree health and their broader benefits.

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Published by pat frederick

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47 thoughts on “Arkansas State Tree: Loblolly Pine”

    1. Good morning, Pat! Big things happening today! What a scene to wake up to!!! Out-fucking-standing!!!! Another sunny day so far – 26 when I got up but it’s dropped to 22. Someone got into the tuna overnight but IDK if it was Wheezer – maybe a mouse? The tuna was frozen, of course, and some was scattered on the mat around the bowl. Hope he shows up today.

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      1. Good Morning Filly!

        it’s now close to 40* here…and all the birds have disappeared! looking and looking for a hawk in the trees, but we spotted one. been gone for almost 3/4 of an hour…

        Hope Wheezer’s okay!!! We’re gonna make a short run into town this morning to pick up the mail.

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  4. kalbokalbs

    kalbokalbs(@kalbokalbs)

    Online

    Wolf

    February 28, 2026 06:55

    Iran is on. To what degree, I have no idea. Off in search of details.
    Trump: ‘Major Combat Operations’ Underway to ‘Obliterate’ Iranian Missile Factories
    U.S. President Donald Trump told the Iranian armed forces to lay down their arms or face “certain death” and its people to rise up and “seize control of your destiny” as “major” strikes against Tehran commenced.

    Joint American-Israeli strikes against Iran took place over night, with U.S. President Donald Trump addressing both the nation and the people of Iran. Announcing the strikes to eliminate “imminent threats from the Iranian regime” which “directly endangers the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world”, Trump said: “A short time ago, the United States Military began major combat operations in Iran”.

    Iranian retaliatory strikes have been launched against Israel.
    The strikes are intended to destroy Iran’s stockpiles of missiles and to ‘obliterate’ Iran’s missile production industry, the President said. Most importantly, Trump said, was preventing Iranian nuclear-tipped long-range missiles from ever threatening the American mainland or America’s allies in Europe.

    https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/02/28/trump-major-combat-operations-underway-against-iran/

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  9. Just The News: “Iranian forces said on Saturday that they have launched strikes on a U.S. naval facility in Bahrain, part of a broader wave of attacks across the region in retaliation for what Tehran described as a “massive” and ongoing assault by the United States and Israel.

    Explosions were reported in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, and Kuwait, all of which host U.S. military installations. These countries were not reportedly involved in the attack led by the U.S. and Israel.

    Black smoke was seen rising near the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s United States Fifth Fleet in Manama, though the extent of any damage has not been confirmed.

    In Doha, Qatar’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted several missiles believed to be aimed at Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military base in the region.”

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  13. Liked by 2 people

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  14. “Breaking: WAR in IRAN”

    Michael T. Flynn LTG USA (RET), Feb 28, 2026

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “First, and I believe most important, is for all Americans to steady themselves for a lot of misinformation. This will come from all angles of attack. In war and intelligence reporting we say, first reports are always wrong. That’s a good starting point for us all.

    War is never in any nation’s interest unless national survival is at stake. In America, the decision to go to war should be a joint decision by the executive and legislative branches of government. There will be untold costs and consequences and our nation must be together on this issue—like it or not, our nation going to war is not the sole prerogative of the executive branch. We should demand that Congress has skin in this “game” just as our President and our military forces have skin in it.

    For a minute, consider the lost resources spent fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan (trillions of $’s and thousands of lives), never mind Ukraine and Venezuela (we still have a naval armada minding this critical part of the world).

    We also need to consider what responses might come from China (ie., Taiwan), Russia (use of Nukes), or Turkey (a NATO ally, hopefully they sit this one out), and is our homeland at risk to terrorist counter-strikes?

    That said, a PROLONGED war is never in America’s interests. However, once war is waged, it is an unleashing of emotions that can easily cause it to be endless.

    We’ve been told time and again, America can no longer afford endless wars. That is a seriously true statement, we really cannot afford another endless war or conflict.

    Therefore, we want to see if our Congress will respond with full throated support for our military operations and our troops. We also want them to vote their beliefs whether or not they support these actions. We also want there to be as much transparency as possible from our White House on those clear objectives that describe vital national security interests, precisely how long this war will last and what objectives, once achieved, will allow us to rapidly extract ourselves from this war.

    We have far too many problems here at home and we cannot afford open ended ventures back in the Middle East on behalf of others. We have to get back to taking care of America First as fast as possible.

    Pray for our troops and like millions of Americans, we want to be at peace. We also want freedom loving people around the world to know we stand with your fight to achieve freedom and once achieved, we will open the doors of America to fully embrace your desire to live freely and in peace. But also understand achieving freedom takes sacrifice and comes at a cost. Americans understand that, our own American Revolution is a perfect example of sacrifice.

    For those that don’t understand scale and scope, Iran is four times the size of California with over 90 million people. A few strikes and a few days does not solve all of its problems. The people of America need to understand this while the people of Iran are living it.

    In war, the best plans provide the most options right up to the last possible minute. I know our military is exceptional and well led. But going to war is also a failure of diplomacy and policy. Remember, Iran also had many chances to come to the table. Let’s pray President Trump sits his team down and has solutions for the long haul. I believe he does but the bureaucratic challenges he faces are immense.

    God bless America and may God keep us safe and secure in the days, weeks and months ahead. Pray for all those in harms way, especially our great military.”

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  16. Pat, you might want to take this to QTree…

    EXCERPT: “…..Analysis:

    Government buildings in Tehran bombed.

    The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) struck a meeting of Iran’s senior political and security leadership in Tehran. It was the room where Iran’s government was gathered – and eliminated.

    The IDF provided new details on its simultaneous airstrikes this morning targeting senior Iranian political and military officials at several locations in Tehran.

    The IDF developed the plan over months, and it included a major intelligence effort led by the Intelligence Directorate to “identify an operational opportunity at the moment when senior regime officials would convene.”

    The IDF says a decision was made to carry out the strike in the morning, rather than at night, despite Iranian preparedness. The IDF says it succeeded in “achieving tactical surprise for the second time,” referring to its opening strikes during June 2025’s 12-day war.

    Intelligence officers spend thousands of hours of work putting together targets for the operation, with the IDF saying that it has “increased the number of targets by hundreds of percent, so that Israel is prepared to strike in Iran as long as required.”

    The target research was conducted “in parallel with precise location tracking of Iranian commanders and senior leadership.”

    According to the IDF, a “significant factor“ in the United States’ decision to join Israel in the operation against Iran is confidence in the IDF’s “intelligence and operational capabilities,” along with achievements in June’s war.

    Israeli officials (via Times of Israel, N12, Axios) assess these deaths occurred in today’s joint US-Israel strikes: Pakpour (IRGC head), Shamkhani (Khamenei’s advisor; spelling variant), Nasirzadeh (Defense Minister), and military intel chief (likely Asaadi).

    Iran attacked numerous countries in retaliation. The IRGC is not the same as the Iranian Military, called the Artesh. There is an intense rivalry between the two. The IRGC was set up to “guard” the Islamic clerics and ensure their revolution was to endure. It was set up alongside the secular Iranian military called the Artesh.

    Given this divide, it is important to question whether the retaliatory attacks were carried out by the Iranian military in an attempt to bring in other nations to ensure the overthrow the Islamic Regime. The countries attacked as of today:

    1. Israel — Northern Israel (building hit); additional barrages toward Tel Aviv/Jerusalem areas with interceptions.
    2. United Arab Emirates — Abu Dhabi (Al Dhafra Air Base area; one civilian killed by debris) and Dubai vicinity.
    3. Bahrain — Manama (US Navy 5th Fleet headquarters).
    4. Qatar — Doha area (Al Udeid Air Base).
    5. Kuwait — Kuwait City area (Ali Al Salem Air Base).
    6. Jordan — Amman area (US assets; intercepted).
    7. Syria — Suwayda (Sweida; residential building hit, four civilians killed).
    8. Saudi Arabia — Riyadh area (reported targeting).
    9. Oman and Iraq were not targeted in confirmed strikes.

    If this was an intended attack against neighboring countries, then this was a massive miscalculation.

    One month ago Saudi Arabia was Iran’s diplomatic shield in the Gulf. The kingdom that brokered the 2023 rapprochement with Tehran. The country that told Washington it would not participate. The monarchy that built its entire post-Vision 2030 foreign policy on balancing between Washington and Tehran without choosing. Iran forced the choice this morning by firing missiles at Riyadh.

    The Saudi capital was attacked. The kingdom that spent three years rebuilding ties with Tehran just had Iranian ballistic missiles in its airspace. The country that told America it would stay neutral just watched its sovereignty violated by the same regime it was trying to protect from American strikes.

    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was quick to respond:

    The Kingdom “condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the treacherous Iranian aggression.” It calls the missile strikes a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty” of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan. It pledges “full solidarity” with every attacked nation. And then the line that changes everything: Saudi Arabia is “placing all its capabilities to support them in all measures they take.”

    All its capabilities. All measures.

    That is not diplomatic language. That is a blank check written in the middle of a war. Whatever the UAE decides to do, Saudi Arabia just said it will support.

    Whatever Bahrain’s response, Saudi will back it. Whatever Jordan, Qatar, or Kuwait determines is necessary, Riyadh just pledged everything it has.”

    https://www.malone.news/p/operation-epic-fury

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  18. Just The News: “The National Council of Resistance of Iran, an anti-Iranian regime group, announced on Saturday a “provisional government to transfer sovereignty” to the Iranian people and establish a Democratic Republic after the United States and Israel launched strikes against the regime. The organization also publicly outlined a ten-point plan for the country’s future after the U.S. and Israeli military operation launched on Saturday.

    “In these difficult circumstances, I call on all of you, especially the courageous youth of our country, to care for civilians and the general public, particularly children and the elderly. Protect them and help one another. Now is the time for solidarity,” said Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the NCRI.

    “Our strength lies in the unity and cohesion of our people against the religious dictatorship and the remnants of monarchical fascism that seek to steal the democratic revolution. At this critical moment, I call upon our compatriots and all forces of Iran’s democratic revolution to remain vigilant and prepared,” she added.

    The ten-point plan includes “freedom of speech, freedom of political parties, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press and the internet” as well as the “dissolution and disbanding of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the terrorist Qods Force, plainclothes groups, the unpopular Bassij, the Ministry of Intelligence, Council of the Cultural Revolution, and all suppressive patrols and institutions in cities, villages, schools, universities, offices, and factories.”

    The group’s plan calls for “commitment to individual and social freedoms and rights in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Humans Rights. Disbanding all agencies in charge of censorship and inquisition” as well as “seeking justice for massacred political prisoners, prohibition of torture, and the abolishment of the death penalty.”

    It also recommends “separation of religion and state, and freedom of religions and faiths.”

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  20. BREAKING: Legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka dead at 86 — Sedaka had reportedly been rushed to an LA hospital earlier in the day.

    Post Millennial, Hannah Nightingale, Washington DC, Feb 27, 2026

    BREAKING: Legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka dead at 86

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka has died at the age of 86, his family announced on Friday. 

    “Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka,” his family said in a statement, per the Associated Press. “A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed.”

    He rose to prominence in the late 1950s and early 1960s with hits such as “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,” “Calendar Girl,” and “Oh! Carol!,” and made a comeback in the 1970s with hits such as “Bad Blood” and “Laughter in the Rain.” 

    Per TMZ, Sedaka had reportedly been rushed to an LA hospital earlier in the day. Family sources told the outlet that Sedaka had not been feeling well on Friday morning and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. 

    Sedaka had been nominated for five Grammy awards across his career, and was indicted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.” 

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  22. “Bill Clinton Tells Epstein Committee It Depends On What The Definition Of ‘Child Trafficking’ Is”

    Politics · Feb 27, 2026 · BabylonBee.com

    Image for article: Bill Clinton Tells Epstein Committee It Depends On What The Definition Of ‘Child Trafficking’ Is

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former president and saxophone player Bill Clinton testified to members of Congress today that his answer to their questions depended on what the definition of “child trafficking” is.

    “What is…’is?’ And furthermore, what really IS ‘child trafficking?’” Clinton reportedly told members of the committee. “I would like to ask you all, what does this term mean, and how can I get out of any culpability related to these accusations, rhetorically speaking?”

    Clinton was grilled on his associations with the infamous deceased billionaire Jeffrey Epstein and what his relationship with the women who worked for Epstein entailed. During the questioning, Clinton repeatedly stated that his actions depend on what the working definitions of terms actually are.

    “What is ‘sexual predator?’ What is ‘a depraved pervert?’ What is ‘massive scumbag?’” Clinton asked. “I’m afraid it depends on your definitions of these words. I cannot give an answer if we don’t agree on any solid definitions. Also, is it lunch time? Who else could go for a Big Mac?”

    Democrats called the accusations against Clinton ridiculous and asked how a man with his character and spotless track record of upstanding behavior could be dragged into something so unseemly. Clinton responded by saying that it would depend on what any given person’s definition of “unseemly” was.

    At publishing time, President Clinton was last seen trying to hit on Nancy Mace.

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  24. gees…we rarely see anything on our road traffic wise–except the hunters in season, but when we left, we saw a pick up truck parked alongside the road and something hanging over the embankment. all we could see was tires–so we stopped. A four wheeler slid on the ice on the road and went on its side and LUCKILY got stopped-stuck between trees which impeded its fall.

    We stopped and asked if they needed help–the guy (guessing truck owner) said “she’ll be fine.” I asked if he needed us to call anyone and he said no, but thanks.

    So we went into town, got the mail, got lottery tickets and headed back. On the main road just about to turn onto our dirt road, there was a car parked and a PA Constable car parked behind it. More excitement…LOL

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  33. Just The News, Published: February 28, 2026 12:27pm:

    “Iran’s supreme leader and president are alive after U.S. and Israel launched a military operation in the country, according to a report on Saturday.

    Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, said in an NBC News interview on Saturday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are alive “as far as I know.”

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