Götaland is the historical name given to the southernmost provinces of Sweden, a part of the country made up of lowlands dotted with an abundance of lakes. Götaland marks the northern distribution limit of the deciduous tree species that are more familiar to us, such as oak, beech, maple and ash. Species from the northern forests are also common here: Norway spruce, Scots pine, and the ubiquitous European birch. This mix of species may vary from one location to another, and other factors may impact how they intermingle, but the Norway spruce, with its fine- and straight-grained wood, is still king in the eyes of the Swedish forestry industry, an important economic sector in the country. Common juniper, not unknown to us but very rare, is a fairly common species in the Swedish lowlands.