Growth rings.

[Kbeitz]

I'm comfused... You got late wood and Early wood...To me new growth is early and dark.

Cut and pasted right off the internet from different links.

Summerwood is the darker-colored, dence portion of an annual growth ring.

And....

New growth makes up the better part of the ring, and in many woods, it is lighter in color than latewood

So what is what? Is dark early and light the summer wood ?

[clearcut]

Early or spring wood forms from the cambium when the tree is growing at its fastest, at least in temperate climates. There is plenty of moisture, the soil is usually saturated from winter precipitation, with minimal loss to transpiration. . The leaves are young and fresh, producing at their maximum. Sunlight is increasing. The wood laid down rapidly, is less dense, and is lighter in color.

As the season progresses, soil moisture is lost to transpiration. There are fewer hours of sunlight. The leaves are getting old and less efficient, eaten by bugs and covered with dust. The tree shifts resources to storage. Less wood is produced, it is denser and darker. This is late or summer wood. 

[Kbeitz]

Thanks....