People all over Boulder are asking the same question. “Is it time to view the changing leaves yet?”

The answer is easy! This report is from a visit to Nederland and the Peak to Peak Highway up towards Ward and Rainbow Lakes, seven miles to the North, today! Thursday, 9/19/2024. And yes Virginia, there are golden aspens waiting to be ogled.

While not all of the local Aspens are at their peak, above 8000 feet, 2500 meters, North of Nederland on the leaf-famous Peak to Peak Highway, the leaves are spectacular! Boulder Canyon is still green almost the entire way from Boulder to Nederland. Immediately above Nederland in the classic leaf-view spots, the aspens have most certainly reached their peak in some areas, and will reach their peak in others in the very near future. I would not wait! I’d go twice at least, with the first visit being ASAP!

Remember that each stand of Aspen is a single organism, a group of clones. That is why each grouping is of a matching color to those in the same stand.

Colors range from light yellow-gold to more red-gold.  But WHY are the groves all matching in color? Because they are a single organism! And aspen groves include the largest single organism on the planet Earth!

The most famous example is called “Pando,” a massive quaking aspen grove located in Utah’s Fishlake National Forest. What makes an aspen grove unique is that all the trees in a grove are genetically identical and connected by a single root system, meaning the entire grove functions as a single organism.

Pando covers over 100 acres and weighs an estimated 13 million pounds, making it the largest organism by mass. Each tree in the grove appears separate above ground, but underground, they are all interconnected through a vast network of roots that share nutrients and water. This clonal colony has been growing for thousands of years, although it is currently threatened by environmental changes and human activity.

Each stand, each single organism shares a common color and also tends to change colors at the same time. So we see a golden glow of a group of gorgeous aspen next to a grove which is just changing.

Lenny Lensworth Frieling

Shared Knowledge Is Power!

Leonard Frieling Pen Of Justice

• Multi-published and syndicated blogger and author.
• University lectures at University. of Colorado, Boulder, Denver University Law School, Univ. of New Mexico, Las Vegas NM, and many other schools at all levels. Numerous lectures for the NORML Legal Committee
• Former Judge
• Media work, including episodes of Fox’s Power of Attorney, well in excess of many hundreds media interviews, appearances, articles, and podcasts, including co-hosting Time For Hemp for two years.
• Life Member, NORML Legal Committee, Distinguished Counsel Circle.
• Photographer of the Year, AboutBoulder 2023
• First Chair and Originator of the Colorado Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Committee, a National first.
• Previous Chair, Boulder Criminal Defense Bar (8 years)
• Twice chair Executive Counsel, Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section
• Life Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
• Board Member Emeritus, Colorado NORML, and prior chair during legalization, as well as pre and post legalization
• Chair, Colorado NORML, 7 years including during the successful effort to legalize recreational pot in Colorado
• Senior Counsel Emeritus to the Boulder Law firm Dolan + Zimmerman LLP : (720)-610-0951
• Board member, Author, and Editor for Criminal Law Articles for the Colorado Lawyer, primary publication of the Colorado Bar Assoc. 7 Years, in addition to having 2 Colorado Lawyer cover photos, and numerous articles for the Colorado Lawyer monthly publication.
• http://www.Lfrieling.com