Hunting for trees

[August44]

I tried collecting a few larches this Fall too, after seeing this thread.

I'm keeping them outside on seedling mats this winter. This will keep the roots above freezing through spring. Everything I dug up is in pure pumice.

Here's a subalpine larch:
View attachment 402235

And the root ball of a different one. I'm bare rooting several and keeping the dirt intact on several, like below. We'll see if it matters in a year or two:
View attachment 402247

And here's a tiny Western larch I dug up because of its color. The needles look healthy. Anyone seen this before? The yellow/green behind is a different tree.
View attachment 402240

Nice job on the collecting Andrewiles! I collected some nice ones this fall also, bur nothing like that big one. Lucky you!

 

[woodkraftbonsai]

I tried collecting a few larches this Fall too, after seeing this thread.

I'm keeping them outside on seedling mats this winter. This will keep the roots above freezing through spring. Everything I dug up is in pure pumice.

Here's a subalpine larch:
View attachment 402235

And the root ball of a different one. I'm bare rooting several and keeping the dirt intact on several, like below. We'll see if it matters in a year or two:
View attachment 402247

And here's a tiny Western larch I dug up because of its color. The needles look healthy. Anyone seen this before? The yellow/green behind is a different tree.
View attachment 402240Lo

I tried collecting a few larches this Fall too, after seeing this thread.

I'm keeping them outside on seedling mats this winter. This will keep the roots above freezing through spring. Everything I dug up is in pure pumice.

Here's a subalpine larch:
View attachment 402235

And the root ball of a different one. I'm bare rooting several and keeping the dirt intact on several, like below. We'll see if it matters in a year or two:
View attachment 402247

And here's a tiny Western larch I dug up because of its color. The needles look healthy. Anyone seen this before? The yellow/green behind is a different tree.
View attachment 402240

Looks awesome! I'm in Bothell - whereabouts did you got o collect the Larch?

 

[andrewiles]

Looks awesome! I'm in Bothell - whereabouts did you got o collect the Larch?

Try Loup Loup for Western larch. Off 20 east of Twisp. It's a loong drive from where we are but you can find lots of trees. Permits can be purchased from the Methow ranger station over the phone.

Subalpine larches are a different beast altogether. You're gonna have to do lots of hiking for those :-(

 

[jhaysBonsaiS89]

Awesome. I've been wanting to do this. Maybe snag a couple on my Mammoth Lake Trip

 

[woodkraftbonsai]

Try Loup Loup for Western larch. Off 20 east of Twisp. It's a loong drive from where we are but you can find lots of trees. Permits can be purchased from the Methow ranger station over the phone.

Subalpine larches are a different beast altogether. You're gonna have to do lots of hiking for those :-(

Did you have to pick up the permit in person? Or did they mail it? It's been difficult for me to get a permit because I work M-F and the ranger stations I've talked to only hand out stuff during the weekend. Though I was able to get one through the mail for spring collecting from the wenatchee office.

 

[mattspinniken]

You're gonna have to do lots of hiking for those :-(

Awesome Larch! That bigger one is special. The best ones always seem to take the most work. I actually did my last collection of the year today and I am tired. Ill post a picture below.

 

[August44]

Why are you calling them subalpine Larch verses the name given that particular Larch? Are they listed somewhere as "Subalpine Larch" or is that just a local name given?

 

[mattspinniken]

My last collection of the year was today:

 

[vancehanna]

Matt, if you have a few seedlings possibly say 3-6 and maybe 2nd yr I'd like a few for my replacement grove. Let me know.
thank you
vance hanna

 

[andrewiles]

Why are you calling them subalpine Larch verses the name given that particular Larch? Are they listed somewhere as "Subalpine Larch" or is that just a local name given?

It's a separate species, Larix lyallii. Also called "alpine larch". Virtually identical to Larix occidentalis but they live at different elevations. Apparently none near you in Oregon though.

 

[andrewiles]

Did you have to pick up the permit in person? Or did they mail it? It's been difficult for me to get a permit because I work M-F and the ranger stations I've talked to only hand out stuff during the weekend. Though I was able to get one through the mail for spring collecting from the wenatchee office.

Sorry to sidetrack your thread, Matt.

Last time I picked up a Methow permit it was all done over the phone. They mailed it to me. That was this spring.

 

[andrewiles]

My last collection of the year was today:
View attachment 402528View attachment 402529View attachment 402530

That's a great looking tree! I'm jealous you can get anywhere close to a tree like that with a truck.

 

[Potawatomi13]

I tried collecting a few larches this Fall too, after seeing this thread.

I'm keeping them outside on seedling mats this winter. This will keep the roots above freezing through spring. Everything I dug up is in pure pumice.

Here's a subalpine larch:
View attachment 402235

And the root ball of a different one. I'm bare rooting several and keeping the dirt intact on several, like below. We'll see if it matters in a year or two:
View attachment 402247

And here's a tiny Western larch I dug up because of its color. The needles look healthy. Anyone seen this before? The yellow/green behind is a different tree.
View attachment 402240

Brown tree looks dead. Fall needles normally yellow AFAIK. Still would give tree chance to grow 2022 Spring.

 

[mattspinniken]

That's a great looking tree! I'm jealous you can get anywhere close to a tree like that with a truck.

Thanks! This one is really nice and I am going to be really sad if it dies. I believe it is hollow and it is housing a ton of ants inside. I have never been able to get my truck close on a tree, I definitely had it in 4x4 for the last bit and I spent 8 hours driving yesterday. Was so lucky to get close though! I actually walked by this tree 2 or 3 times before I noticed it, that seems to happen alot. I personally will often find the best trees on the second or third pass through an area.

 

[andrewiles]

All of my fall collected larches are leafing out. Promising so far. I see a few new roots sticking out here and there as well. The batch on bottom heat are not looking any different than the ones left to the elements. I think I spent over $100 on electricty though . Probably won't do that again but I wanted to see if it mattered.

Going to be interesting to see how the subalpine larches react to having a summer that is now 3 times longer than they have ever known.

@mattspiniken how are yours looking?

 

[lillarch]

I have dabbled in collecting Western Larch at various times of year.

Collected Nov. 2021 had a really slow start to winter. They usually have a small flush year after collection that either browns and falls off or stays. Got lucky on this one.



Collected Nov. 2021. This one had its needles brown but in my experience will bud next spring.


Collected March-April 2020. Repotted too early this year and hurt these two. Notice browning needles that a lot of folks notice on Western Larch bonsai.




Collected Oct. 2018. Nothing special and was my introduction to collected Western Larch



All collected 8/30/2022. Maybe too early, maybe not we will see.

 

[StPaddy]

I have major zone envy reading this. Wish larch thrived where I live. Very cool thread.

 

[August44]

I have had pretty good luck collecting larch in the fall here in Mid-late October and early November. I just read an article on fall collecting Larch that said if one waits until all the needles are all off, you have a better survival rate if cutting big roots. Any truth to that?