marlin....I've always wonderd about the Tamarak's as well.  Some years they come on in color while there's still alittle deciduous color remaining as well....often they seem to turn yellow just after the deciduous drop...and sometimes they seem to hang on into Nov.

This last fall, I noticed a short season for the Larch color, and most were bare Nov 10th.  Thought it was a pretty poor intensity of color as well.  I love to photograph them.

So what prompts them?....same as the other trees....light, temps, and the years water availability?  It seems to me that dry years seem to produce a shorter color show....but by my (admittedly poor observational skills)...as much more intense color show.

wally wrote on Apr 20^th, 2009 at 11:14pm:


That's it! I noticed Tin Can Mike is named Murphy on my E-15 large scale (c) 1967 Fisher map.  There was a moose swimming across it, Tin Can Mike, when we arrived at the end of the portage.

So, what is it like in a wet year?

starwatcher

marlin: I transplanted several tamaracks to some wet areas in my yard about 20 years ago, now their about 20' tall and starting to really take off....shure glad I did that, when that golden glow is highlited by autums setting sun rays.....ooooooo..ahhhhh..oh yea..baby, baby////

Starwatcher...the "average year" sees most of that end of the portage under water.  Don't have pics...but the reason that "planking" is there is because the water is usally somewhere between ankles and mid leg.....if you manage to stay on the planking.  Problem is...it floats as well.  I've seen more grouse concentrated there (the sandpit end)....in the BWCA, than anywhere else.

I think they may have modified the planking. I went through there early last May with exceptionally high water levels and the planking was pretty dry.