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Colorado Photo:
Aspen Groves, Fall Colors,
San Juan Mountains
Somewhere deep in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado, groves of quaking aspen seem to spill down the hills in full autumn glory. Their silvery trunks point straight up, while what yellow foliage has not yet been downed by the recent rainstorm sets the hills aglow. Some stands are in peak color, while many others have recently shed their leaves, returning the nutrients and organic matter back into the soil in the endless cycle of fertilization and renewal.
Aspen are said to often grow in clones, each stand connected by a vast common root system. You can get a fairly good idea of where each clone begins and ends by their leafing habits. Typically, a clone of trees will leaf out, turn autumn color, and drop leaf at the same time.
If that is true, how many clones can you identify in this photo? Maybe there are some adjoining clones with very similarly timed leafing habits, but in general we can see what's going on. The variety and order of nature both dazzles the eye while stimulating the mind.
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