Larch-like Doug-fir

[Cruiser]

This tree reminds me of old larches up at blue lake in the North Cascades.

It displays similar form; a straight singular trunk that forks into secondaries, lateral/ascendant main branches, a dead top, reiterated trunks, deadwood, a swollen/damaged base, and wiggliness in opposition to straight sections.

For many wildland conifers, form like this comes from centuries of abuse.










Dragonscale bark.


Fall is a great time to visit the lake.

 

[Cruiser]

Collected mid April. Buds plump but unopened.



The next day tree was put into a wooden container of bark and pumice. Organic fertilizer was mixed in. Large cumbersome roots and a few branches were removed.

Tree was positioned for direct sun in the morning-early afternoon. Frequently watered and occasionally misted.


Recovery is going well. Though some inner needles dropped post-collection, buds have produced healthy, well distributed growth. The shari is rapidly healing. Back buds are emerging. Lots of fresh root tips are poking from below the container.

 

[BonsaiManic]

Very nice. I'm interested to see where you take this tree. Great find!

 

[rusticana]

Nice photos. Larch are one of my favourite trees. We have some huge ones in SE BC. Haven't been back for years. I was not aware their range went so far south. My spruce minus the dead top (not tortured more neglected). Had it 25 years. And my tamaraks dug the same spot.

 

[August44]

This tree reminds me of old larches up at blue lake in the North Cascades.

It displays similar form; a straight singular trunk that forks into secondaries, lateral/ascendant main branches, a dead top, reiterated trunks, deadwood, a swollen/damaged base, and wiggliness in opposition to straight sections.

For many wildland conifers, form like this comes from centuries of abuse.

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Dragonscale bark.
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Fall is a great time to visit the lake.
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Great pictures and very cool pictures of the trees you collected! How high up are you collecting there?

 

[Cruiser]

Great pictures and very cool pictures of the trees you collected! How high up are you collecting there?

The Douglas-fir is from 2500’ and was not collected around blue lake. It just resembles the trees there.

Blue lake is by Washington Pass in North Cascades National Park. It’s around 6000’. The hike there is an A+ and only 4ish miles round trip.
There are amazing trees around the lake, but collection is banned, like in all National Parks. It would be a pretty serious offense, the backlash swift and severe; and rightly so.

 

[FreshAirSunshine]

One thing I noted in the old examples was the prevalence of two growth planes - a fixed angle for the trunk which remained largely linear then a growth habit of the primary branches which was largely vertical towards the sky. I could see this split being used to convey a similar sense of scale. Just an observation.