The View from Point Alexander

Some trees live a hard life. This cedar tree is growing out of the bedrock along the Barron River in Algonquin Park. I was intrigued by the harsh environment and that this tree continues to survive in it.

I was also attracted to this scene by the contrast between the green of the cedar foliage and the bright orange of the Xanthoria lichen coating the rock face. Both are indicators of the presence of lime in the rock. This gives rise to some locally unique plants -- most notably, encrusted saxifrage -- farther upriver in the Barron Canyon.