When we moved to Montana, we saw something we'd never seen -- yellow pine trees. At first we thought they were dying, but then it became apparent they weren't because there were so many. They're called Western Larch trees and they grow only in the northwestern US and southern Canada. It's believed that the state of Montana has the largest population of Western Larch trees. They're green all year, except for the fall when their needles turn bright yellow. After a few weeks, the needles fall to the ground and get everywhere. They're nearly impossible to sweep up, so the best way to move them around is with a leaf blower. At times our driveway is solid yellow. People love to go hiking or mountain biking this time of year because the paths are bright yellow. It looks like a scene from The Wizard of Oz with the yellow brick road leading the way. The wood is very hard and the trees are resistant to fire. I've read they can reach heights of 180 feet tall and can live for nearly 800 years. They are very unique looking trees and we have lots of them on our property. It's not a tree many people get to see everyday, so I thought I'd post a picture of one here today.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Western Larch
When we moved to Montana, we saw something we'd never seen -- yellow pine trees. At first we thought they were dying, but then it became apparent they weren't because there were so many. They're called Western Larch trees and they grow only in the northwestern US and southern Canada. It's believed that the state of Montana has the largest population of Western Larch trees. They're green all year, except for the fall when their needles turn bright yellow. After a few weeks, the needles fall to the ground and get everywhere. They're nearly impossible to sweep up, so the best way to move them around is with a leaf blower. At times our driveway is solid yellow. People love to go hiking or mountain biking this time of year because the paths are bright yellow. It looks like a scene from The Wizard of Oz with the yellow brick road leading the way. The wood is very hard and the trees are resistant to fire. I've read they can reach heights of 180 feet tall and can live for nearly 800 years. They are very unique looking trees and we have lots of them on our property. It's not a tree many people get to see everyday, so I thought I'd post a picture of one here today.
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How Cool! I did not know about the yellow pine tree! And Rena, I have no idea how you keep up with two blogs every day! I can barely do 3 or 4 a week! I'm going to go check your other photo on the other blog!
ReplyDeleteWait - you have another blog and didn't tell me? The nerve! lol
ReplyDeleteThe trees are beautiful though - I had never heard of them either.
That is a pretty tree, I've never seen one either. I've also never heard of a pine tree that turns yellow and loses it's needles in the fall. Nature is amazing!
ReplyDeleteNancy
Kelly -- I don't seem to post on the other one as much. I don't think it gets as much traffic, but that's where a lot of the authors are from my publisher.
ReplyDeleteLOL Tracy -- The other blog is listed on the right here under "Rena's Multiply Site". :)
Thanks Nancy -- I wasn't sure if you had Western Larches down in WY. I think ID has them and parts of WA, but I have read MT has the most. They're really pretty and the mountains look so cool this time of year with big splashes of yellow.
I'd love to see that in person someday. I love your description of it. I would've thought the yellow was a sign of dying tree too. :0)
ReplyDeleteChristy
Christy -- I know what you mean. The first time we flew to MT from CA and saw all the red trees below from the plane, the first thing that came to Rick and my mind was PhosCheck! We'd been in southern CA too long and fall colors didn't even occur to us for a few minutes!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful. A tree resistant to fire.. very interesting, no wonder they live so long.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pics.
Rena, I've never heard of these pine trees. How interesting! I'm a littlel jealous, too - Montana sounds like such a neat place to live.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to stop by and say "Hi!" and I enjoyed your pics.
Sharon (from the BBs)
Those pine trees are new to me too. Along the river here, we have bald cypress. They have needles which in the fall turn a lovely rusty-brown. The needles fall into the river, where they float, causing the water to look like it's carpeted. Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I think it would be cool to go hiking with bright yellow paths.
ReplyDelete