Sensory joy

I have just returned from a walk round where I live, and it’s windy and quite bright, I’ve got my sunglasses on, but no headphones today. I just walked past this large hedge covered in dry brown leaves, and it made the most exquisite noise as I passed ( it was the wind rustling the leaves). I felt such joy hearing it so clearly, it really made my day. That’s it really. 

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  • Aspen, a type of tree, has unusual flattened leaf stalks (petioles), the bit the connects the flat leaf blade to the branch. Instead of being round, the flat shape allows the leaves to wobble in the breeze. It gives a distinctive appearance to the tree.

    I first encountered it in the US and Canada. But there is a European Aspen too. I am fortunate that there is a stand opposite my workplace, on a bank by the side of the road. They are allegedly common, but I have not seen them elsewhere.

    I look at them every day. I am waiting for the leaves to come back. I love looking at them. I point them out to everyone else, but they don't seem to enjoy them as much.

    They also go a lovely yellow in the autumn, sometimes with pinks and oranges too.

  • Instead of being round, the flat shape allows the leaves to wobble in the breeze. It gives a distinctive appearance to the tree.

    Populous tremula.

    I was reading a novel set in the US last night and there was a reference to the Aspens trembling.

    Until your post I hadn't understood so thanks for that.

    I read that they are being planted in Scotland. 

  • There are Aspen trees at a country park in N. Ireland. I first noted them about two years ago when the wind caught the leaves and they trembled. It was mesmerising. 

    There is an Aspen in the Bach Flower Remedy collection that is for calming certain types of anxious states. There might not be sound evidence of its efficacy. 

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