[Fletcher]

I find the bright (almost lime) green color of larches in early summer to be equally as beautiful and vibrant as the colors of fall.

[NacMacFeegle]

[joker]

[joker]

[DIYSteve]

They were there

[joker]

Well, yeah, of course they were. But it's the edge of their range - are they very common there? Now that you've gotten me thinking about it, I have vague memories of seeing them maybe in boggy areas up north on the coast of Maine, but otherwise I'm drawing a blank.

[GaliWalker]

I've seen some eastern tamaracks here in Pennsylvania, but I think those were planted and not natural. In any case, these didn't look anywhere near as impressive as the ones in Washington, because they were in the middle of a forest of hardwoods. As I said in my earlier post, location is key.

[DIYSteve]

[puzzlr]

I don't chase larches, but I have to say that one of my favorite Washington hiking photos ever was one I saw on this site from a fall Enchantments hike. And the yellow needles weren't even on the trees.

Larch Needle Blanket, by tomgcallahan

[MtnManic]

I'm a local, used to the berry bushes, ashes, and maples turning color. Saw it every year. Then *it* happened. I was caught in a spell, basking in the golden enchantment... the light was alive, and glowing, and shining on me. Reminded me somewhat of the lyric, somewhat modified, of " to see the face of God." (I'm not religious, btw, but it seemed a perfect description.) Seriously...the trees were above me, the sun warm and diffuse, scattering its glowing beams about me: I was awash in in the brilliance of liquid gold... well, ahem, it was magical and I'd earned it. Dancing on sunbeams...yeah...waxing lyrical here, I know.

[Bedivere]

Larches in fall are a short-lived phenomena, a visual treat that heralds the changing of the seasons. The golden yellow needles capture the light in extroardinary ways.

Even when it's cloudy they light up the terrain

Transforming the merely interesting into the uniquely beautiful

And when the skies are blue they impart a dose of color that's rare and fleeting

lighting up the landscape like hundreds of yellow candles (Do you recognize yourself in this one CJ?)

Even after the golden needles are gone their stark and interesting forms are an expression of nature's artistry

Patterning the landscape with stark beauty

Until summer returns and a new crop of silky soft green needles bursts forth to soak up the light of the long days

Or collect drops of foggy dew

DSC_6731

But perhaps best of all, they give us extra motivation to get out and enjoy the beauty of the mountains in a season when the crowds are less, the days shorter, and the temperatures colder

All hail Larix Lyalli! One of the most unique and beautiful of nature's creations.

[Jake Neiffer]

Some of the recent trip reports are spectacular with the contrast of yellow, red, and blue. I expressed tad overrated, but I think the posters were correct that lighting/time of day makes a big difference.

[RichP]

Very poetic, Bedivere.

[Cyclopath]

[DIYSteve]

You may not have noticed Eastern Tamaracks because they are often mixed with other trees, both coniferous (e.g., Black Spruce) and deciduous (aspen), but there are also plenty of pure stands of them in NE. Here is a NYT article from 1989 re fall tamarack viewing in New England: http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/20/travel/after-the-maples-the-golden-tamarack.html?pagewanted=all