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By Ed Helmick
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I have always enjoyed aspen trees and the beauty they add to our mountain state. The Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) are amazing. They stand tall with white trunks reaching for the sky. They are growing as a colony, young and old trees, from a common root system like a family. In the spring and summer, their shimmering leaves are what gives them the term “Quaking Aspen.” The fall colors of aspen trees are spectacular. Aspen trees are found in all 29 counties in Utah. On May 13, 2014, the Quaking Aspen officially became the Utah State Tree (from 1933 until 2014, the Colorado blue spruce was the state tree).
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One of my favorite photographs of aspens is this month’s “Winter Aspens.” This photo was taken on the Nebo Loop road after a light snowfall and a heavy frost. A beam of light broke through the clouds and illuminated the foreground grove and left the background ridge in silhouette. The contrast makes for a delightful photo and a feeling of being blessed to a splendid sight for a wonderful moment in time.
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For more information about the landscape photography of Ed Helmick, contact him at ed.helmick@gmail.com.
