Grand Fir (Abies grandis) is a Pacific Northwest native that is a popular Christmas tree species. The pitch that oozes from the bark has that familiar Christmas tree smell. When crushed, the needles have a citrus smell, variously described as being like citronella or grapefruit.
New foliage appears at the tips of the branches in the spring. This new growth is a vivid emerald green and stands in sharp contrast to last years' needles, which are a very dark green. That contrast and the tendency of the branches to grow in layers are what led me to take this picture.
Ash Creek Images
Photographs of the West by Doug Gorsline
Spring Foliage Glows Emerald Green on a Grand Fir (Abies grandis) in Oregon.
