My favorite tree is the Aspen found in the United States Rocky Mountains above 5000 feet and various other places across the world. 

They are beautiful throughout the year with green leaves that sing in the wind, red or golden yellow leaves in the fall and unique whitish bark with markings that look like eyes. 

Aspen groves have been identified as some of the largest living organisms on earth. Rather than individual trees in a grove or cluster, they all share the same root system and are clones of each other. 

The largest in the world is in Utah per web search:
Pando, located in Fishlake National Forest, Utah, is the largest aspen grove in the world, covering approximately 106 acres and consisting of around 47,000 genetically identical stems connected by a single root system. This massive organism is estimated to be between 16,000 and 80,000 years old, making it one of the oldest living organisms as well.

Beyond being beautiful and musical, aspen trees have been used for medicinal purposes by Native/Indigenous peoples, support many animals and birds for nesting and food, and are even natural fire breaks. 

Aspens are unique in that they continue growing during winter.

As we enter into Fall and using the aspen tree as a natural wisdom guide:

Consider your interconnection with others:

• what shared roots do you have?
• how can you honor the similarities?
• where can you respect the differences?
• what do you need to let go of at this time?
• where can you reach out and grow a new connection?

Fall is a wonderful time to enjoy the variety of colors in nature and appreciate the diversity surrounding us.

If you aren’t in an area that has the fall leaf change, then travel via the internet to enjoy nature’s amazing art.

[appreciation to photographer]