Smaller trees at the ed of the grove are starting to turn yellow.
On the hillsides around here, if you see an Aspen grove, it shows the presence of ground water, not necessarily a spring but definitely a source of moisture. The larger the grove, the more abundant the water source.
Trees in the heart of the grove, where the ground water lingers longest, maintain their hold on summer green.
An apple continues to ripen, unpicked by a bear, in an old tree by the edge of the aspens.
We have no idea what variety of apple this might be; there are three apples on the tree and if they ripen before a bear gets them, we will see how good they are. Maybe in muffins, or pancakes….
Rosehips gleam bright crimson, warning of thorns.
Wild Roses are abundant in the aspen grove, in the spring their delicate scent fills in the air. In the fall they are a brilliant flash of color. Nobody seems to eat these hips, they make a good herbal tea, when sweetened with plenty of honey, chock full of vitamin C.
This is the heaviest crop of rosehips we've seen since we moved here. Abundant early rains had a definite effect.
We went for a walk today. The Cottonwood trees are also starting to turn colors, at the very top of the trees. Soon, in the higher elevations, the Larch will turn gold. It’s a gorgeous time of year.