It’s That Time of Year…

Aspen Yellow

Just north of Santa Fe, aspen trees cover much of the western face of Santa Fe Mountain, starting at about 7,200’ elevation up to 8,000 – 8,500’, as part of the Sangre de Cristo range. During September and October, aspen leaves change to a range of vivid electric yellows and oranges that are especially striking against their tall, slender, nearly white trunks.

As aspen leaves fall, the white trunks tend to reflect the various shades of each days’ light. And as the leaves disappear, occasional aberrant-colored trunks stand, ranging from a minor color offset to a beautiful bright orange…

During the 13 years I’ve lived in Santa Fe, every year, like so many locals, I can’t resist making the pilgrimage up Santa Fe Mountain with its acres and acres of Aspen.

Aspen Yellow<br>Aspen Yellow — 2007 Aspen Yellow II<br>Aspen Yellow — 2007 Aspen Yellow III<br>Aspen Yellow — 2007 Aspen Yellow IV<br>Aspen Yellow — 2007 Aspen Yellow V<br>Aspen Yellow — 2007 Aspen Yellow VI<br>Aspen Yellow — 2007 Aspen Yellow VII<br>Aspen Yellow — 2007 Aspen Yellow VIII<br>Aspen Yellow — 2007 Aspen Yellow IX<br>Aspen Yellow — 2007 Aspen Yellow X<br>Aspen Yellow — 2007

Continuing Aspen’s Turn: Aspen White

As the aspen trees lose their leaves, their trunks and branches take on a taupe to white cast. More subtle and beautiful, as the emerging hue of their trunks begins to dominate and the day’s light changes…

Aspen White<br>Continuing Aspen's Turn: Aspen White — 2007 Aspen White II<br>Continuing Aspen's Turn: Aspen White — 2007 Aspen White III<br>Continuing Aspen's Turn: Aspen White — 2007 Aspen White IV<br>Continuing Aspen's Turn: Aspen White — 2007 Aspen White V<br>Continuing Aspen's Turn: Aspen White — 2007 Aspen White VI<br>Continuing Aspen's Turn: Aspen White — 2007 Aspen White VII<br>Continuing Aspen's Turn: Aspen White — 2007 Aspen White VIII<br>Continuing Aspen's Turn: Aspen White — 2007 Aspen White IX<br>Continuing Aspen's Turn: Aspen White — 2007 Aspen White X<br>Continuing Aspen's Turn: Aspen White — 2007

Completing Aspen’s Turn: Aspen Orange

And as winter sets in, for some reason occasional aberrant orange trunks appear, set off against the aspen stands of taupe and white, providing an incredible contrast to the aspen’s bare trunks and branches; further emphasized by the early setting sun that tends to cast its own more subtle orange light.

Aspen Orange<br>Completing Aspen’s Turn: Aspen Orange — 2007 Aspen Orange II<br>Completing Aspen’s Turn: Aspen Orange — 2007 Aspen Orange III<br>Completing Aspen’s Turn: Aspen Orange — 2007 Aspen Orange IV<br>Completing Aspen’s Turn: Aspen Orange — 2007 Aspen Orange V<br>Completing Aspen’s Turn: Aspen Orange — 2007 Aspen Orange VI<br>Completing Aspen’s Turn: Aspen Orange — 2007

4 Comments

  1. These are gorgeous! Love seeing your photos!!!

    • The whites are so lovely – so sensuous. A bit like opening a whole box of exquisite chocolates!

  2. Dick Swartz

    Just lovely. As our weather changes these images are perfect to ease into the cold weather ahead. Here’s to a wonderful holiday and an even better New Year.

  3. Anne Ward Sabbert

    Gunnar,
    We awakened this morning (tonight is Christmas Eve) to a beautiful snowfall, with our community looking like white lace, with the snow on the bushes and tree tops. Then, when we checked our email, there were your spectacular pictures of the “snow spiral!” Thanks for sharing them–we will share them with our family–and we hope you have a blessed Christmas!
    Anne

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