Red Aspen leaf gall

They say it's been a good year for insects, and what you're seeing out and about this year would certainly support that. The amount of buzzy things still around our autumn sun drenched flower beds is noticeable, the huge quantity of Knopper gall's, the horrific numbers of wasps about, and I noticed the Aspens are covered in Red Aspen leaf galls too, from which Harmandia gall midges will emerge. I like the Aspen (Populus tremula), you always know when there's an Aspen about, you can hear them, they're the most talkative of trees.

Underneath the rustling Aspen tree

I sat beneath a clump of rustling Aspen (Populus tremula) trees this afternoon under a clear blue sky and pleasantly warmed by the fading summer sun. Lovely. What a magical and talkative tree the Aspen is, even amongst the other trees you can always hear the Aspen, their chatter stands out. 

After the rain

By early evening the rain's stopped, the air is fresh and clean, in fact everything appears freshened, there's a quietness and a stillness too, as if everything is taking a moment just to enjoy; luckily there's time for a quick walk before the Sun bows out. Rain drops still cling to the Aspen (Populus tremula) leaves and soak us as we pass; we don't mind. The Aspen, or Quaking Aspen as our local variety are, are lovely trees; their gently toothed leaves are a rich variety of colours, within each leaf a range of colours can be found as they mature, copper when young, to green when mature and finally yellows through oranges to reds in autumn.  The Aspen can be a noisy tree too, they shimmer and quake in the breeze; even a gentle breeze has them whispering, and in stronger winds they're heard to shout. Folklore says that a crown of Aspen leaves will allow the wearer to journey to the underworld and return safely. A lovely and magical tree.