Quaking; Shimmering Aspen

The Quaking aspen have a smooth, white bark, marked by dark scars where branches naturally self-prune. They can reach 40 to 70+ feet high. The largest aspen tree in the US is 144 feet, in the Kootenai National Forest near Troy, Montana.


"Sing for Joy"   9" X 12"  Oil


The aspen stands are important deer, elk, moose, hares, porcupines, beavers, and other wildlife habitat. The animals eat aspen leaves, twigs, and bark, especially in the hard winter months. It is great to walk through the groves to see the variety of birds that live among them. Birds like the red-nape sapsuckers peeking at the bark for insects. More species can be seen like the mountain bluebirds, house wrens, warbling vireos, hermit thrushes, and ruffed grouse.

Aspens grow along with the ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and lodgepole pine in dense groves ranging from 1 to 20 acres. The quaking aspen is the most widely distributed tree species in North America, from Alaska to the southeast and along the Rocky Mountain Range dipping down into New Mexico.

On the easel, in progress.
"Gentle Whisper"
16" X 16"







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