Blue Stained Spalted Ponderosa Pine

 

This beautiful bluish-gray coloring (spalting) is the result of the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic affecting the Black Hills of South Dakota. The color is caused by a fungus that is carried by the beetles that stains the trees. This unfortunately results in a dead tree, but if the trees are harvested soon enough, the wood can be salvaged and fully functional. Although a fungus in the wood doesn't sound very appealing, it is important to note that the lumber we sell has been dried and the fungus is no longer active.