also known as quaking aspen, is a delightfully cheerful tree! It doesn’t take itself too seriously and can be quite the drama queen at times. While other trees diligently convert sunlight into life, our quaking aspen needs no excuse to break into a joyous dance, even with the gentlest breeze. Its branches sway and wave with such enthusiasm that one might mistake it for a hurricane, when it’s just a light spring wind.
In this video, you’ll witness the comedic drama that the quaking aspen brings. In the background, there’s an oak on the left and a different kind of aspen, the poplar, on the right. While our dancing aspen performs its wild and funny dance, the oak and poplar remain undisturbed, not particularly motivated by the gentle breeze. The dance creates stunning scenes of light and shadow on the delicate leaves, with patterns casting a hypnotic spell on both the tree and shadows on the ground. It’s like watching mesmerizing shows in nature such as fire, running water, or clouds in the wind—something that can captivate us for hours on end. The dance of quaking aspen leaves in the sun brings a smile to my face and I could happily watch it for hours. It’s incredibly relaxing and strangely satisfying.
One fascinating fact about quaking aspen trees is that what appears to be several trees are actually one tree with multiple trunks. All these trees growing together share a common root system, making them one living being rather than many. Interestingly, when one of the trunks is cut down, new shoots vigorously sprout from the surviving root, as if trying to defy death with even more life.