I’ve come to appreciate the fall color of the tamarack larch tree. Its artistic form – the delicate, fringed needle leaves and dainty cones appeal to me.
Others agree … the tamarack larch has been used as an ornamental landscape plant and for bonsai.
What did I know when I was young and dismissed it as just a scraggly tree in swampy areas?
I find it interesting that tamarack is used for posts because it is tough and resistant to rot. Tamarack has been used in making guitars, snowshoes, wooden boats, and corduroy roads.
Before 1917 surveyors used it to mark the northeast corners of sections in Alberta because of its durability, availability, and light weight.
Tamarack bark and roots were used to treat a variety of physical ailments by indigenous people, who found many other uses for it such as toboggans, woven bags, and goose decoys.
Anyway, I just like the special yellow colors that tamaracks develop in the fall and their distinct shape and texture.
They’re different … in a good way.
