May 9,
Pine Hole Pond, Ward Reservation, Andover
American larch (tamarack) is a northerner. Even though
this tree has a vast range in northern North America, it is not
readily found in eastern Massachusetts. Here it occurs mostly at
margins of large ponds, such as this. At this remarkable pond, tamarack is
mixed with an even more rarely seen northern tree, black or bog spruce. The
strip of small trees behind the peripheral shrubs consists of
dark-colored black spruces and emerald green tamaracks.