Thursday, August 7, 2014

Aspen giants

When I think about the largest life forms, I usually think of elephants and whales and such.  But some scientists consider the largest known single life form to be a stand of trees in Utah.  As many as 47,000 apparently separate aspen trees there are actually the same organism, all from the same root stock.  The trees share the same exact DNA, all turning colors in the fall at exactly the same moment.  The world is amazing.

Bear Creek Trail, Colorado
This beautiful aspen grove is only about five minutes from the Bear Creek Trailhead, which is on the road between Dolores and Rico, in Colorado.  The trail system here is great for longer hikes or tiny strolls.  

Aspen dwarf my fellow hikers

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