RHH's photos with the keyword: sitka spruce

These photos of new growth on conifers were taken at Yaquina Head Natural Area in Oregon. I believe these are Sitka Spruce, a tree that in favored locations grows to be over 170 feet tall (52 m) but along the coast is often little more than a gnarled shrub.

This was taken by my wife in the Hoh Rainforest and when I saw it I immediately thought of the hobbits in Lord of the Rings and the Old Forest at the beginning of their journey. In this case, of course, the hobbits are just three children who were ahead of us on the trail and the forest is in Olympic National Park. The large tree on the right is a Sitka Spruce and the dead tree next to it an old Western Red Cedar. Old Man Willow was nowhere to be found. On another note, I'll not be posting another photo until Saturday evening - am off to do some hiking.