Tanana Photos, Tamarack (publ. 2024-05-11)

Last Wednesday (2024-05-08) I had another nice walk by the Tanana, during the lunchbreak. I took these scenery photos:

The balsam poplar, a.k.a. cottonwood, has budded now:

Lately I've taken a particular interest in Tamarack trees. According to Alaska Trees and Shrubs (2nd edition, Viereck) Tamarack is not unique to Alaska, but inside of Alaska they have an unusual distribution pattern, residing mainly in the interior and especially along the Tanana. So, I like to think of Tamarack as, in a sense, unique to my neighborhood.

Tamarack has a spindly look to it, though the wood is quite sturdy. It has needles like a pine, but they come in little clusters, and are shed every fall. The branches and twigs have a fractal look to them, though in a messy fashion.

tamarack (thumbnail)

tamarack

tamarack twigs (thumbnail)

tamarack twigs

In God's creation, there is always something more to learn about. The closer you look, the more details you find to stimulate both intellectual interest and your sense of awe and wonder.

Great are the works of the Lord;

They are studied by all who delight in them. — Psalm 111:2 (NASB 1995)

On the way back to my SUV, I caught this moose enjoying a snack. I don't know a lot about moose, to be honest, but I could see little stubs on top, so I believe it was a bull moose who had shed his antlers. I had my binoculars and watched him "up close" for a few minutes. He seemed to have no interest at me at all. We were about 30 or 40 feet apart.

moose (thumbnail)

moose

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