This weekend laid out the most beautiful blue skies as the perfect contrast to bright spring foliage. Among the various colors of green, one stood out from the others. A look around our neighborhood (and right in our front yard) quickly revealed its identity as Big-toothed Aspen (Populus grandidentata). Though most of the leaves are 40 feet above our heads, or more, there were enough within arms reach to confirm the broad leaf with the big, coarse teeth. 

We then wondered about the leafing schedule of the other two poplar species - Quaking Aspen (P. tremuloides) and Balsam Poplar (B. balsamifera). Quaking Aspen was also pretty easy since those are abundant on Walton Road - and trees of Big-tooth and Quaking Aspens have the dual personality mentioned in recently previous blog. Quaking Aspen leaves are already well-emerged and bright green, distinctly different from the grayish green of Big-tooths. It took a trip up north to check out the Balsam Poplar which conveniently grows along the interstate, and conveniently for me is right on my way to visiting the grandkids (and their parents, of course). So I was able to snap a photo of Balsam Poplar in full leaf and displaying a dual-natured bark like its cousins.