tamaracks are a favorite in this family. sometimes you can mistake a spruce for a balsam, but you can never mistake a tamarack–especially not in fall when whole swamps ignite with yellow fire. the cones in this photo are waiting to make new tamaracks, and the little buds along the branches are waiting to become another year’s worth of feathery needle tufts that will turn honey colored next autumn, and carpet the swamps of northern minnesota with gold.

tamarack cones

vadnais lake, saint paul, minnesota