Quaking aspens


Another on my list of favorite trees (yes, I am a casual amateur botanist 🙂 ) is the quaking aspen, or "Populus tremuloides" - don't you love that Latin name, and the "trembling" species descriptor? I love the leaves that tremble and quake in every slight breeze, and the beautiful smooth white bark of the trunks. I love how the leaves turn into shining gold in the autumn.
Probably because the tree grows fast, the wood is soft and not very strong. It's not good for campfires or for construction. So this is not a perfect tree - but perfection is pretty elusive in any category, isn't it?
And of course there is Utah's famous Pando - said to be the largest known single organism on earth. This massive grove near Fish Lake in central Utah grows from a single root system, with tens of thousands of genetically identical trees all having sprouted from that single source that is several thousand years old. Pando is estimated to weigh something like 13,000,000 pounds covering over 100 acres!
I recall reading a Ute Indian legend about the quaking aspen. When the Great Spirit would walk among the forest, all the trees of creation would bow in respect. But the aspens grew weary of the action, and vowed to remain upright. Their punishment was that from that time forward, they would tremble whenever anyone looked at them. And the bark turned white to remind all of the power and goodness of the Great Spirit. I like that. I know what it's like to tremble because of fear or regret - a good sign of acknowledging our inadequacy. And don't we all wish we could convey more light and goodness in our countenance?
I #GiveThanks for nature's remarkable gifts, and all that we can learn from them.

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