Podcasts about aspens

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast is a reader-supported publication (and my full-time job). To receive new posts and to support independent ski journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.WhoChris Cushing, Principal of Mountain Planning at SE GroupRecorded onApril 3, 2025About SE GroupFrom the company's website:WE AREMountain planners, landscape architects, environmental analysts, and community and recreation planners. From master planning to conceptual design and permitting, we are your trusted partner in creating exceptional experiences and places.WE BELIEVEThat human and ecological wellbeing forms the foundation for thriving communities.WE EXISTTo enrich people's lives through the power of outdoor recreation.If that doesn't mean anything to you, then this will:Why I interviewed himNature versus nurture: God throws together the recipe, we bake the casserole. A way to explain humans. Sure he's six foot nine, but his mom dropped him into the intensive knitting program at Montessori school 232, so he can't play basketball for s**t. Or identical twins, separated at birth. One grows up as Sir Rutherford Ignacious Beaumont XIV and invents time travel. The other grows up as Buford and is the number seven at Okey-Doke's Quick Oil Change & Cannabis Emporium. The guts matter a lot, but so does the food.This is true of ski areas as well. An earthquake here, a glacier there, maybe a volcanic eruption, and, presto: a non-flat part of the earth on which we may potentially ski. The rest is up to us.It helps if nature was thoughtful enough to add slopes of varying but consistent pitch, a suitable rise from top to bottom, a consistent supply of snow, a flat area at the base, and some sort of natural conduit through which to move people and vehicles. But none of that is strictly necessary. Us humans (nurture), can punch green trails across solid-black fall lines (Jackson Hole), bulldoze a bigger hill (Caberfae), create snow where the clouds decline to (Wintergreen, 2022-23), plant the resort base at the summit (Blue Knob), or send skiers by boat (Eaglecrest).Someone makes all that happen. In North America, that someone is often SE Group, or their competitor, Ecosign. SE Group helps ski areas evolve into even better ski areas. That means helping to plan terrain expansions, lift replacements, snowmaking upgrades, transit connections, parking enhancements, and whatever built environment is under the ski area's control. SE Group is often the machine behind those Forest Service ski area master development plans that I so often spotlight. For example, Vail Mountain:When I talk about Alta consolidating seven slow lifts into four fast lifts; or Little Switzerland carving their mini-kingdom into beginner, parkbrah, and racer domains; or Mount Bachelor boosting its power supply to run more efficiently, this is the sort of thing that SE plots out (I'm not certain if they were involved in any or all of those projects).Analyzing this deliberate crafting of a natural bump into a human playground is the core of what The Storm is. I love, skiing, sure, but specifically lift-served skiing. I'm sure it's great to commune with the raccoons or whatever it is you people do when you discuss “skinning” and “AT setups.” But nature left a few things out. Such as: ski patrol, evacuation sleds, avalanche control, toilet paper, water fountains, firepits, and a place to charge my phone. Oh and chairlifts. And directional signs with trail ratings. And a snack bar.Skiing is torn between competing and contradictory narratives: the misanthropic, which hates crowds and most skiers not deemed sufficiently hardcore; the naturalistic, which mistakes ski resorts with the bucolic experience that is only possible in the backcountry; the preservationist, with its museum-ish aspirations to glasswall the obsolete; the hyperactive, insisting on all fast lifts and groomed runs; the fatalists, who assume inevitable death-of-concept in a warming world.None of these quite gets it. Ski areas are centers of joy and memory and bonhomie and possibility. But they are also (mostly), businesses. They are also parks, designed to appeal to as many skiers as possible. They are centers of organized risk, softened to minimize catastrophic outcomes. They must enlist machine aid to complement natural snowfall and move skiers up those meddlesome but necessary hills. Ski areas are nature, softened and smoothed and labelled by their civilized stewards, until the land is not exactly a representation of either man or God, but a strange and wonderful hybrid of both.What we talked aboutOld-school Cottonwoods vibe; “the Ikon Pass has just changed the industry so dramatically”; how to become a mountain planner for a living; what the mountain-planning vocation looked like in the mid-1980s; the detachable lift arrives; how to consolidate lifts without sacrificing skier experience; when is a lift not OK?; a surface lift resurgence?; how sanctioned glades changed ski areas; the evolution of terrain parks away from mega-features; the importance of terrain parks to small ski areas; reworking trails to reduce skier collisions; the curse of the traverse; making Jackson more approachable; on terrain balance; how megapasses are redistributing skier visits; how to expand a ski area without making traffic worse; ski areas that could evolve into major destinations; and ski area as public park or piece of art.What I got wrong* I blanked on the name of the famous double chair at A-Basin. It is Pallavicini.* I called Crystal Mountain's two-seater served terrain “North Country or whatever” – it is actually called “Northway.”* I said that Deer Valley would become the fourth- or fifth-largest ski resort in the nation once its expansion was finished. It will become the sixth-largest, at 4,926 acres, when the next expansion phase opens for winter 2025-26, and will become the fourth-largest, at 5,726 acres, at full build out.* I estimated Kendall Mountain's current lift-served ski footprint at 200 vertical feet; it is 240 feet.Why now was a good time for this interviewWe have a tendency, particularly in outdoor circles, to lionize the natural and shame the human. Development policy in the United States leans heavily toward “don't,” even in areas already designated for intensive recreation. We mustn't, plea activists: expand the Palisades Tahoe base village; build a gondola up Little Cottonwood Canyon; expand ski terrain contiguous with already-existing ski terrain at Grand Targhee.I understand these impulses, but I believe they are misguided. Intensive but thoughtful, human-scaled development directly within and adjacent to already-disturbed lands is the best way to limit the larger-scale, long-term manmade footprint that chews up vast natural tracts. That is: build 1,000 beds in what is now a bleak parking lot at Palisades Tahoe, and you limit the need for homes to be carved out of surrounding forests, and for hundreds of cars to daytrip into the ski area. Done right, you even create a walkable community of the sort that America conspicuously lacks.To push back against, and gradually change, the Culture of No fueling America's mountain town livability crises, we need exhibits of these sorts of projects actually working. More Whistlers (built from scratch in the 1980s to balance tourism and community) and fewer Aspens (grandfathered into ski town status with a classic street and building grid, but compromised by profiteers before we knew any better). This is the sort of work SE is doing: how do we build a better interface between civilization and nature, so that the former complements, rather than spoils, the latter?All of which is a little tangential to this particular podcast conversation, which focuses mostly on the ski areas themselves. But America's ski centers, established largely in the middle of the last century, are aging with the towns around them. Just about everything, from lifts to lodges to roads to pipes, has reached replacement age. Replacement is a burden, but also an opportunity to create a better version of something. Our ski areas will not only have faster lifts and newer snowguns – they will have fewer lifts and fewer guns that carry more people and make more snow, just as our built footprint, thoughtfully designed, can provide more homes for more people on less space and deliver more skiers with fewer vehicles.In a way, this podcast is almost a canonical Storm conversation. It should, perhaps, have been episode one, as every conversation since has dealt with some version of this question: how do humans sculpt a little piece of nature into a snowy park that we visit for fun? That is not an easy or obvious question to answer, which is why SE Group exists. Much as I admire our rough-and-tumble Dave McCoy-type founders, that improvisational style is trickier to execute in our highly regulated, activist present.And so we rely on artist-architects of the SE sort, who inject the natural with the human without draining what is essential from either. Done well, this crafted experience feels wild. Done poorly – as so much of our legacy built environment has been – and you generate resistance to future development, even if that future development is better. But no one falls in love with a blueprint. Experiencing a ski area as whatever it is you think a ski area should be is something you have to feel. And though there is a sort of magic animating places like Alta and Taos and Mammoth and Mad River Glen and Mount Bohemia, some ineffable thing that bleeds from the earth, these ski areas are also outcomes of a human-driven process, a determination to craft the best version of skiing that could exist for mass human consumption on that shred of the planet.Podcast NotesOn MittersillMittersill, now part of Cannon Mountain, was once a separate ski area. It petered out in the mid-‘80s, then became a sort of Cannon backcountry zone circa 2009. The Mittersill double arrived in 2010, followed by a T-bar in 2016.On chairlift consolidationI mention several ski areas that replaced a bunch of lifts with fewer lifts:The HighlandsIn 2023, Boyne-owned The Highlands wiped out three ancient Riblet triples and replaced them with this glorious bubble six-pack:Here's a before-and-after:Vernon Valley-Great Gorge/Mountain CreekI've called Intrawest's transformation of Vernon Valley-Great Gorge into Mountain Creek “perhaps the largest single-season overhaul of a ski area in the history of lift-served skiing.” Maybe someone can prove me wrong, but just look at this place circa 1989:It looked substantively the same in 1998, when, in a single summer, Intrawest tore out 18 lifts – 15 double chairs, two platters, and a T-bar, plus God knows how many ropetows – and replaced them with two high-speed quads, two fixed-grip quads, and a bucket-style Cabriolet lift that every normal ski area uses as a parking lot transit machine:I discussed this incredible transformation with current Hermitage Club GM Bill Benneyan, who worked at Mountain Creek in 1998, back in 2020:I misspoke on the podcast, saying that Intrawest had pulled out “something like a dozen lifts” and replaced them with “three or four” in 1998.KimberleyBack in the time before social media, Kimberley, British Columbia ran four frontside chairlifts: a high-speed quad, a triple, a double, and a T-bar:Beginning in 2001, the ski area slowly removed everything except the quad. Which was fine until an arsonist set fire to Kimberley's North Star Express in 2021, meaning skiers had no lift-served option to the backside terrain:I discussed this whole strange sequence of events with Andy Cohen, longtime GM of sister resort Fernie, on the podcast last year:On Revelstoke's original masterplanIt is astonishing that Revelstoke serves 3,121 acres with just five lifts: a gondola, two high-speed quads, a fixed quad, and a carpet. Most Midwest ski areas spin three times more lifts for three percent of the terrain.On Priest Creek and Sundown at SteamboatSteamboat, like many ski areas, once ran two parallel fixed-grip lifts on substantively the same line, with the Priest Creek double and the Sundown triple. The Sundown Express quad arrived in 1992, but Steamboat left Priest Creek standing for occasional overflow until 2021. Here's Steamboat circa 1990:Priest Creek is gone, but that entire 1990 lift footprint is nearly unrecognizable. Huge as Steamboat is, every arriving skier squeezes in through a single portal. One of Alterra's first priorities was to completely re-imagine the base area: sliding the existing gondola looker's right; installing an additional 10-person, two-stage gondola right beside it; and moving the carpets and learning center to mid-mountain:On upgrades at A-BasinWe discuss several upgrades at A-Basin, including Lenawee, Beavers, and Pallavicini. Here's the trailmap for context:On moguls on Kachina Peak at TaosYeah I'd say this lift draws some traffic:On the T-bar at Waterville ValleyWaterville Valley opened in 1966. Fifty-two years later, mountain officials finally acknowledged that chairlifts do not work on the mountain's top 400 vertical feet. All it took was a forced 1,585-foot shortening of the resort's base-to-summit high-speed quad just eight years after its 1988 installation and the legacy double chair's continued challenges in wind to say, “yeah maybe we'll just spend 90 percent less to install a lift that's actually appropriate for this terrain.” That was the High Country T-bar, which arrived in 2018. It is insane to look at ‘90s maps of Waterville pre- and post-chop job:On Hyland Hills, MinnesotaWhat an insanely amazing place this is:On Sunrise ParkFrom 1983 to 2017, Sunrise Park, Arizona was home to the most amazing triple chair, a 7,982-foot-long Yan with 352 carriers. Cyclone, as it was known, fell apart at some point and the resort neglected to fix or replace it. A couple of years ago, they re-opened the terrain to lift-served skiing with a low-cost alternative: stringing a ropetow from a green run off the Geronimo lift to where Cyclone used to land.On Woodward Park City and BorealPowdr has really differentiated itself with its Woodward terrain parks, which exist at amazing scale at Copper and Bachelor. The company has essentially turned two of its smaller ski areas – Boreal and Woodward Park City – entirely over to terrain parks.On Killington's tunnelsYou have to zoom in, but you can see them on the looker's right side of the trailmap: Bunny Buster at Great Northern, Great Bear at Great Northern, and Chute at Great Northern.On Jackson Hole traversesJackson is steep. Engineers hacked it so kids like mine could ride there:On expansions at Beaver Creek, Keystone, AspenRecent Colorado expansions have tended to create vast zones tailored to certain levels of skiers:Beaver Creek's McCoy Park is an incredible top-of-the-mountain green zone:Keystone's Bergman Bowl planted a high-speed six-pack to serve 550 acres of high-altitude intermediate terrain:And Aspen – already one of the most challenging mountains in the country – added Hero's – a fierce black-diamond zone off the summit:On Wilbere at SnowbirdWilbere is an example of a chairlift that kept the same name, even as Snowbird upgraded it from a double to a quad and significantly moved the load station and line:On ski terrain growth in AmericaYes, a bunch of ski areas have disappeared since the 1980s, but the raw amount of ski terrain has been increasing steadily over the decades:On White Pine, WyomingCushing referred to White Pine as a “dinky little ski area” with lots of potential. Here's a look at the thousand-footer, which billionaire Joe Ricketts purchased last year:On Deer Valley's expansionYeah, Deer Valley is blowing up:On Schweitzer's growthSchweitzer's transformation has been dramatic: in 1988, the Idaho panhandle resort occupied a large footprint that was served mostly by double chairs:Today: a modern ski area, with four detach quads, a sixer, and two newer triples – only one old chairlift remains:On BC transformationsA number of British Columbia ski areas have transformed from nubbins to majors over the past 30 years:Sun Peaks, then known as Tod Mountain, in 1993Sun Peaks today:Fernie in 1996, pre-upward expansion:Fernie today:Revelstoke, then known as Mount Mackenzie, in 1996:Modern Revy:Kicking Horse, then known as “Whitetooth” in 1994:Kicking Horse today:On Tamarack's expansion potentialTamarack sits mostly on Idaho state land, and would like to expand onto adjacent U.S. Forest Service land. Resort President Scott Turlington discussed these plans in depth with me on the pod a few years back:The mountain's plans have changed since, with a smaller lift footprint:On Central Park as a manmade placeNew York City's fabulous Central Park is another chunk of earth that may strike a visitor as natural, but is in fact a manmade work of art crafted from the wilderness. Per the Central Park Conservancy, which, via a public-private partnership with the city, provides the majority of funds, labor, and logistical support to maintain the sprawling complex:A popular misconception about Central Park is that its 843 acres are the last remaining natural land in Manhattan. While it is a green sanctuary inside a dense, hectic metropolis, this urban park is entirely human-made. It may look like it's naturally occurring, but the flora, landforms, water, and other features of Central Park have not always existed.Every acre of the Park was meticulously designed and built as part of a larger composition—one that its designers conceived as a "single work of art." Together, they created the Park through the practice that would come to be known as "landscape architecture."The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Join Julie Potiker as she leads you through this Classic Metta Meditation. She completes the meditation with her poem, "March on Meadowbrook Road".March, on Meadowbrook Road, by Julie Potiker.Down the way from the old Triumph mine, Narrow-leaf Willow, a rust-colored and wild, leans into the breeze.Rubber Rabbit-brush waits in stillness, not yet yellow - there's room here forwhat takes time. Basin Wild Rye a parchment scrap from last year's book, whispers its end in a papery rush.Between patches of snow, soft ground starts to look like something breathing.My boots sink low - just enough to remind me there's life below, waiting to rise, quiet as roots, steady and slow, without need for applause.Chickadees gossip - Black-capped, mountain, in stereo tones stitched through the trees, voices bright. A Northern Flicker taps at Aspens, bare as bones. Does it know the language that flows beneath this frost? Roots that spill messages deep, a network unseen holding hands in sleep.And I stand there, Stetson tipped just right, letting the sun do what it does best - warm my cheek. It says: you're here and so is spring.And that's enough. More than enough, I think.-Julie PotikerFind out more about using mindfulness in everyday life through Julie's books, "SNAP: From Calm to Chaos", and "Life Falls Apart, But You Don't have To: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos". Both are available on Amazon.com.Follow Julie on YouTube and Facebook at Mindful Methods for Life.comThis podcast is available on iTunes, iHeart, Blubrry and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

  Content creator, writer and gardener Ramona Jones talks about her garden and her beautiful book Growing. We discuss her experiences as a neurodivergent gardener, how she uses social media to document her journey, and the joys of creating a space that nurtures both plants and wildlife. She shares her deep connection with nature and the ways gardening has helped her grow in more ways than one. Links Growing: A year of living and nurturing with the seasons by Ramona Jones Ramona Jones on Instagram - @monalogue  Ramona on YouTube Other episodes if you liked this one: If you liked this week's episode with Ramona Jones you might also enjoy this one from the archives:  203: Gardening for Your Senses This week I'm chatting with writer Kendra Wilson. Kendra has written a vast amount about gardening but I was particularly interested in speaking to her about her book Garden for the Senses. Engaging all your senses can lead to a deeper connection with the landscape and it can be an unusual and transformative experience. I wanted to find out how we can all learn to better use our senses and firstly, what prompted Kendra to write the book.  230: Sensory Gardens and Autism I'm speaking about Sensory Gardens, with a focus on design for people with autism. I have three guests; Camellia Taylor who's designed The Natural Affinity Garden, which will be at the Chelsea Flower Show in May, after which time it will be relocated to Kent, to the charity Aspens where it will be used by residents of and visitors to the site. Next, I speak with Meraud Davis who's overseeing the project at Aspens and finally, to Alexis Selby a foraging obsessed, nature-loving, all-round amazing person who's giving us her take on using outdoor spaces with her son, Jared. Please support the podcast on Patreon

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Lyse Doucet, chief international correspondent for the BBC, receives the 2024 Zenger Award for Press Freedom from the UA School of Journalism; and Richard Cachor Taylor's talks about his book "Birds of Arizona".

Mark welcomes back former guest "Belle", as they discuss the perils of transport. "Belle" has two neurodivergent children - a 9-year old girl (diagnosed autistic with sensory processing disorder and a PDA profile), and a 7-year old boy (diagnosed autistic with Tourette Syndrome and suspected ADHD). Alongside Mark's three neurodivergent kids (with a giddy blend of autism, ADHD, anxiety and PDA), they have a trove of transport-related horror stories to tell. As well as discussing tales of travelling on buses, planes, trains, boats and cars, there are also more Neurodiversity Champions, Tiny Epic Wins and What The Flip moments, as well a particularly insightful proposal to create a demand-avoidant sat nav. LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Gatwick Airport Special Assistance - https://www.gatwickairport.com/passenger-guides/special-assistance.html Ferry cabins (DFDS) - https://www.dfds.com/en-gb/passenger-ferries/onboard/newhaven-dieppe/sleeping Jen Marillat, Dramatherapist - https://jenmarillat.com/ Health and Care Professions Council - https://www.hcpc-uk.org/ The British Association of Dramatherapists - https://www.badth.org.uk/  EMDR Therapy - https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/eye-movement-desensitisation-and-reprocessing-emdr Riding For the Disabled Association (RDA) - https://rda.org.uk/ Aspens, East Sussex - https://www.aspens.org.uk/   CONTACT US If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: hello@neuroshambles.com FOLLOW US Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles TikTok:https: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshambles CREDITS The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/ 

Leaf Peepin' is the time in CO (and in many other states in the U.S & Canada) where people flock form near and far to experience the change of seasons through the changing of the leaves. The Aspens in Colorado shift their green, shimmering, coin-like leaves into a vibrant yellow-gold, and it lasts for such a short time you'll be tempted to call out of work and head for the mountains to see them! It's basically your modern day gold rush, that lasts for just a month! Sure the traffic is awful on the weekends, but the views can't be beat. If you want to know more than your friends about Aspens for your hikes, or just want to know where to go to get the best views, then join us for episode 3!*Content Warning: Please be advised that this episode contains mentions of acts of domestic violence and its fatal consequences. If you are sensitive to this content, or are a survivor who may be overwhelmed or triggered by this content, please skip ahead or do not listen. The mentions of this begin at 6 minutes 15 seconds into the podcast, and lasts until 14 minutes 35 seconds. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and needs support, please call 1-800-799-7233.*Episode Notes & Resources:https://www.visitcos.com/blog/aspen-hikes/https://dayhikesneardenver.com/fall-color-aspen-hikes/https://www.coloradohikesandhops.com/blog/best-colorado-destinations-to-see-aspens-fall-colors-hikes-and-driveshttps://303magazine.com/2017/09/fall-hikes-colorado/https://kdvr.com/denver-guide/fall/colors/map-colorado-forecast-2024-peak-colors/https://www.explorefall.com/states/colorado.htmlhttps://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-maphttps://www.westword.com/arts/get-outside-ten-best-hikes-fall-colors-colorado-14955448https://www.alltrails.com/lists/20-colorado-hikes-for-spectacular-fall-colorhttps://kdvr.com/denver-guide/fall/colors/which-trees-turn-which-colors-in-colorado/https://conps.org/project/aspen-forest/#:~:text=The%20largest%20aspen%20grove%20in,grown%20from%20a%20single%20seed.https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/aspen.htm#:~:text=Overview,neuralgiahttps://www.thehotline.org/

Aspens, blues skies and a comet...   LINKS: Winter Outlook - https://youtu.be/u8TxVk8NExU Chugwater Chili - Use checkout code ChugwaterDon for 20% off! https://www.chugwaterchili.com/ https://www.cocorahs.org/ All New Highly Accurate TROPO Rain Gauge - USE CODE RAINDAY FOR 10% OFF https://measurerain.com DayWeather Journal for Kids https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09M57Y7J1?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860  

Neil Edwards is a career game designer with over a decade of experience, spending most of that time in the video game industry - before transitioning to the tabletop world - where he co-founded Ludivore Games and co-designed its debut game, Aspens, with his dear friend and business partner, Luke Roberts.Neil and Luke are passionate about bringing people together into the same spaces to create memorable, unique, and highly-emotive player stories that connect people with shared memories.To see more about Aspens on Kickstarter, check out the page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ludivore/aspens-a-cozy-strategy-game-about-growing-a-tiny-forestFOLLOW US ON: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/boardgamebingeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/boardgamebingepodcast/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/boardgamebingeWHERE TO FIND OUR PODCAST:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5RJbdkguebb3MSLAatZr7riHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-board-game-binge-72500104/Tune In: https://tunein.com/embed/player/p1344218/Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vYm9hcmRnYW1lYmluZ2U=Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/board-game-binge/id1522623033Visit Our Websites: Board Game Binge: https://boardgamebinge.com/Tin Robot Games: https://tinrobotgames.comElixir Board Games: https://www.elixirboardgames.com/our-games

This is at the heart of what drives you. Many of you. Most of you. And I've been there too. You are driving along every day after things you haven't really agreed with. And then you wonder why you don't feel motivated and you'd rather just scroll social media, eat, drink, numb or entertain. You want to tune into stories that make you feel cause you aren't getting many good feels from your current life. You are in good company. And much of it isn't because anything is specifically wrong or against you. You are just somewhat aimless. And for those of you who are pretty driven, you may be tempted to say this isn't you. Stop for a minute. You may be inspired to push through your day, but how fulfilled do you feel? Not just happy here and there, but really fulfilled? At peace. This is my story too. Drive with me a bit as I come to you with some contemplation from my back deck at 9,200 feet up in the Rockies. Let's think together a bit as we hear the birds and the wind play in the Aspens. Got a comment or question about an episode? Want to ask a question about your drive? Email me. I don't want to just talk to you here, I want to talk with you. kmiller@kevinmiller.co. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/kevin Go to shipstation.com and use code KEVIN to sign up for your FREE 60-day trial. Sign up for AromaTru's Insider Club and today you'll receive a FREE Waterless Oil Diffuser and a FREE lemon eucalyptus oil - that's over $200 in savings. Head to aromatruorganics.com/kevin to take advantage of this exclusive offer.   Kajabi is offering a free 30-day trial to start your business if you go to Kajabi.com/kevin Get 20% off any AquaTru purifier today! Visit AquaTru.com and enter code "KEVIN" at checkout. Go to Quince.com/drives for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Go to cozyearth.com/driven and use code DRIVEN for an exclusive 40% discount Join thousands of parents who trust Fabric to protect their family. Apply in minutes at meetfabric.com/WHATDRIVESYOU. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why have gardens been underused in care home settings in the past, even when they're designed to be used? This episode, my guest is Debbie Carroll. Debbie is a Southampton based garden designer with experience in designing for care homes and other health settings for residents with dementia. Her work in these surroundings prompted her to question why these gardens were not more actively used even when they were designed to the latest design guidance. Along with her fellow designer Mark Rendell they researched what hindered engagement with the garden, in particular for people living with dementia. About Debbie Carroll Debbie Carroll is a Southampton based garden designer celebrating 20 years as a designer. She is passionate about gardens being well used and well-loved long after she has left. Her experience in designing for care homes and other health settings for residents with dementia prompted the question of why gardens were not more actively used even when designed to the latest design guidance.  Along with her fellow designer Mark Rendell they researched what hindered engagement with the garden, in particular for people living with dementia. Step Change Design Ltd was formed 10 years ago to share the findings of this study and has since published their ‘Why don't we go into the garden?' series of books and tools. These support both the care sector towards more person-centred care and designers in working effectively alongside them. Their ultimate aim is to enable residents to continue to step outside as and when they choose and for gardens to be well-used and much loved long after the designer has left. Links Summary of Step Change's research Free resources – loads of articles on the Step Change download page Books & tools – ‘Why don't we go into the garden?' series of books and tools Webinars: Webinar Debbie did for Salford Age UK. YouTube Panel webinar for the Dementia Housing group Other episodes if you liked this one: Sensory Gardens & Autism - Hello and welcome to this week's episode, where in recognition of World Autism Acceptance Week, I'm speaking about Sensory Gardens, with a focus on design for people with autism. I have three guests; Camellia Taylor who's designed The Natural Affinity Garden, which will be at the Chelsea Flower Show in May, after which time it will be relocated to Kent, to the charity Aspens where it will be used by residents of and visitors to the site. Next, I speak with Meraud Davis who's overseeing the project at Aspens and finally, to Alexis Selby a foraging obsessed, nature-loving, all-round amazing person who's giving us her take on using outdoor spaces with her son, Jared. Making Gardening Accessible - Hello and welcome to this week's episode of Roots and All, where my guest is garden designer, TV personality and Trustee of the Gardening with Disabilities Trust Mark Lane. Mark talks about the various types of challenges people can face that might impede their activity in the garden, and how gardens and gardening can be adapted to enable people to carry on with these activities. He gives some excellent, practical advice for anyone who may need to adapt horticulture to suit their own needs or those of others. Please support the podcast on Patreon

This was recorded on a mostly cloudy morning under Quaking Aspen trees at the edge of a meadow in Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Siskiyou County, California. Kelly Rafuse (@soundbynaturepodcast) • Instagram photos and videos Sound By Nature Podcast I hope you enjoy this recording, thank you very much for listening. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay sound.

Join host Malcolm Saunders and Herbal Elder Blaine Andrusek for chat number 29 in the Wild Wisdom & Herbal Storytelling series. In this week's episode, the pair cover quite a bit of ground in their conversation. Expect to hear about the Herbalist's garden, parasites and stories and wisdom about the brilliance of teepees and their design. As for herbs, gets to know tarragon and its use in vinegar. Learn all about one of the abundant species found in our part of the west -- Artemisia, aka Sage. Blaine shares how to properly prepare and tie sage bundles for usage. Learn all about Aspens and their bark, juniper, uva ursi and their affinity to support a reduction of urinary tract infections. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! What would you like to hear Blaine share his perspective on? Get in touch by email, info@lightcellar.ca. Let us know what you thought of this episode, and stay tuned and subscribe to this podcast for more.

Students and listeners from across the state send in their nature reports. Depending on the season, reports may cover wildflowers, wildlife, weather and other wonders.

Voles, mice, and other small mammals are around us all the time—but we rarely see them and often forget to appreciate them. This story takes a dive into the hidden world of the small mammals around us: abundant creatures, highly important to the functioning of ecosystems, that many of us ignore. Set in a recently-burned aspen grove in Wyoming, this episode shares a small mammal study being conducted by Cody Lane and the Ricketts Conservation Foundation. We take a look at the diversity of life present in aspen groves, learn about small mammal research techniques, and explore vole identification and some of the ecological differences between species.  The ambient sounds in this episode include a Lincoln's sparrow that I recorded in Powell County, Montana (with background sounds from olive-sided flycatcher, white-crowned sparrow, spotted sandpiper, warbling vireo, willow flycatcher, and pine siskin); an olive-sided flycatcher I recorded in the same area; and a white-crowned sparrow call I recorded in Glacier National Park. Find the written version of this story, plus photos, here: https://wildwithnature.com/2024/01/01/voles-aspens-wyoming/

Early fall. Yellow leaves fall from the aspen trees. Quiet between gusts, cool wind blowing from the north. A change of season is in the air. Warm days, cool nights. The vastness of the land is something from classic American western stories. Near the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, the Eastern Rocky Mountains of Montana reach into the clouds. The first dusting of snow coating the peaks. Recorded over night with a wide stereo bar and two MKH8020's this quiet land is full of beauty and wonder. Recording by Nick McMahan

Our guest today is Dr. Dee Stephenson, a luminary in the field of ophthalmology. She has been in private practice since 1989 in Venice, Florida. She specializes in cataract surgery and has been at the forefront of research as the President of the American Board of Eye Surgery and as a past president of ACES (American College of Eye Surgeons). She is a founding member of ASPENS and AECOS. She is a force in the field, advocating for gender equality and serving as a role model for the next generation of ophthalmologists. To begin, Dr. Stephenson shares how she began her career in ophthalmology. During medical school, she assisted the chairman of the ophthalmology department at USF in his research on glaucoma and cataracts. Dr. Stephenson attended medical school at USF and ophthalmology school at USC in Columbia, South Carolina. She shares the valuable lesson her second mentor taught her about being a kind human being and doctor. Now, she has instilled the habit of calling each and every patient the night before and the day of their cataract surgery to soothe their nerves and worries. During the beginning stages of her practice back in Florida, Dr. Stephenson did many penetrative corneal transplants. She shares what outpatient surgery was most commonly like during that time. In 2007, Dr. Stephenson became the first person to purchase ORA commercially. The technology was a total game-changer for her practice because it took a reading of the eye, magnetized the astigmatism, calculated implants, and signaled where incisions needed to be made. This made Dr. Stephenson realize that 80% of her patients have astigmatism. While she has been introduced to other technologies since then, she still uses ORA in her practice today. She believes that the most exciting thing about ophthalmology is that it is an industry that is always changing. Dr. Stephenson shares that she has been a member of ACES since she was just 25 years old. Since its beginning, ACES has been an organization of people who want to think outside the box and prove the importance of innovation to the field. Here, original ideas and conversations were encouraged. The ABES Certification is still a functioning board Dr. Stephenson still serves as the functioning president. These organizations were composed of people willing to advance the industry and explore new ideas. Before wrapping up, Dr. Stephenson touches on her work advocating for women in the field of ophthalmology. Key Topics: 1:28 - Introducing today's guest, Dr. Dee Stephenson. 2:15 - How Dr. Stephenson became interested in ophthalmology. 11:30 - What outpatient surgery was like during the beginning of Dr. Stephenson's practice. 14:12 - What is ORA and why was it such a game changing technology? 31:45 - The importance of cataract surgery for the aging population. 33:45 - What are ACES and ABES? 40:57 - Advocating for women in ophthalmology.

In this week's episode, we meet with Declan Watts Master Distiller at the newly opened Rick Thomas Distillery in Black Hawk.We hear this week's music mentions from Jamie Lammers, and special correspondent Maryann Rosen will share an intriguing tale about the majestic Aspen Trees, what makes these trees so unique, and where you can see them ablaze in color this autumn.And for our final story, Jamie interviews Branden Sipes, classical, rock guitarist and songwriter delivering a well-rounded sound through the mountains.Thank you for listening to The Mountain-Ear podcast, Everybody's Listening. Each week we feature the news and culture from across the peak to peak. You can find us online by visiting https://www.themtnear.com/Find us on Facebook @mtnearYou can contact our editor at info@themountainear.com.Thank you for listening.

Norm shares a truly unnerving experience while out hunting in northern Idaho. And, several sightings over the years of some unique UFOs.If you love iNTO THE FRAY and want more content....join us over on Patreon! Exclusive interviews, physical rewards like stickers, signed books, T-shirts and more, interactive live-on-video guest interviews and group chats with fellow patrons, private RSS feed, Patron-only Discord room and FB group, and more.Click HERE to check out the various pledge levels.OR...if you prefer Apple Podcasts...subscribe to iTF Premium in your Apple Podcasts app! You'll get all bonus episodes and early releases of the main show. Completely AD-FREE. If you have an encounter or encounters you'd like to share, contact me HEREor via email, shannon@intothefrayradio.comGet your iTF STICKERS....HEREFollow iTF:Facebook: Join the interactive group and visit the official iTF page Twitter: Official iTF and Shannon's personal accountShannon's Instagram Website artwork and logo for iNTO THE FRAY, by Mister-Sam ShearonIntro music with permission from TanekOutro music provided with permission from Electus OfficialThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5837602/advertisement

The West Texas sky island mountains sustain wondrous biodiversity, but there's one particularly graceful being concealed here: Populus tremuloides, the trembling aspen. New research into West Texas aspens could shed light on their history, and on the continent-wide story of this iconic species.

Kathleen Aspens is a flower essence therapist who works with many different flower essence ranges, as well as her own range of essences she created called the Flora of Asia range. She also works with animals and specialises in working with horses and their owners. In this podcast we talk about the process of making flower essences, connecting with the messages of these plants and we go into some depth about the intelligence of plants and how flower essences can be used to treat animals and humans. You can find Kathleen's essences at:http://www.floraofasia.comAs well as:http://www.floweressencestudies.comhttp://www.floweressencepodcast.com

It has been well over two weeks since the dust has settled on the greatest show on earth. Now that the curtain rail has gone down for another year, Helen reflects on her highlights at this years prestigious event. She explores three of her favourite gardens; Harry Holdings School Food Matters garden, Camellia Taylor's garden titled The Natural Affinity Garden for Aspens and Tayshan Hayden - Smith's small but mighty garden Closing the Green Gap. You can find out more about each of these gardens by visiting www.rhs.org.uk

The skiing in Aspen is world-renowned, and it's easy to understand why. The mountains are full of challenging slopes that appeal to all levels of skiers and snowboarders. The Aspen area is known for its abundant snowfall yet sunny days. The ski season in Aspen typically runs from November through April, but the best time to ski Aspen is the end of January to early February. Consisting of 4 mountains, Aspen is a very large resort but very easy to navigate with the well-organized bus system. Whether you're an expert or a beginner, you'll find plenty of runs to enjoy. Sebastian's favorite mountain was Highlands which had the most advanced terrain. Ajax, also known as Aspen mountain, is the "locals" mountain with great advanced skiing. Buttermilk is the best mountain for beginners. Snowmass is the largest mountain and a more extensive resort; however, it is where most of the traffic can be found. Sebastian also stayed in Snowmass and stopped for snacks at Snowmass Mall. On all of Aspen's mountains, the expert terrain is easily accessible, which is not the case in all mountain resorts.Aspen is also home to some of the best hiking trails in Colorado. There are dozens of trails in and around Aspen, ranging from easy to difficult. Many of these trails are accessible even in the winter months, and the views of the surrounding mountains are breathtaking. In the summer, you can also find plenty of other outdoor activities in the area, such as rafting, mountain biking, and horseback riding. When the sun goes down, Aspen transforms into a vibrant nightlife scene. There are countless bars, restaurants, and nightclubs to explore in the city, as well as numerous music festivals throughout the year. For those looking for a more laid-back evening, there are plenty of cozy pubs and cafes to choose from. Some of Sebastian's favorite restaurants he and Jess visited in Aspen were French Alpine Bistro, Almresi, and Venga Venga. French Alpine Bistro is an upscale spot with excellent fondu, beef bourguignon, and truffle and cheese gnocchi. The best part? You can find amazing vintage wine such as the Portuguese 2019 pinot noir called Quinta Do Javali, Clos Fonte Do Santo. Another great dinner spot, Almresi, had tasty beef stroganoff, and must-have fondue.Some of Seb's favorite bar recommendations are Hooch Cocktail Bar, which has an excellent Mezcal drink, and a dive bar called Silver City. If you are incredibly boujee and looking for a one-of-a-kind "experience," visit Cloud 9 off the Cloud 9 chairlift. Cloud 9 is famous for its Veuve Clicquot parties.Whether you are on a honeymoon, a birthday trip, or a vacation break,  Aspen is the perfect destination for an unforgettable vacation. From world-class skiing to vibrant nightlife, you'll have a blast at any time with anyone in Aspen.

In today's episode Helen learns more about the charity Aspens and their garden, supported by Project Giving Back,which will be showcased at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show. She speaks with the garden designer Camellia Taylor and Aspens Head of fundraising Susan Sawyer, to learn more about how the Chelsea garden will help raise awareness around the work Aspens does supporting people with autism and learning disabilities and the long lasting legacy the garden will have once relocated to Aspens following Chelsea.

Hello and welcome to this week's episode, where in recognition of World Autism Acceptance Week, I'm speaking about Sensory Gardens, with a focus on design for people with autism. I have three guests; Camellia Taylor who's designed The Natural Affinity Garden, which will be at the Chelsea Flower Show in May, after which time it will be relocated to Kent, to the charity Aspens where it will be used by residents of and visitors to the site. Next, I speak with Meraud Davis who's overseeing the project at Aspens and finally, to Alexis Selby a foraging obsessed, nature-loving, all-round amazing person who's giving us her take on using outdoor spaces with her son, Jared. Dr Ian Bedford's Bug of the Week: Narcissus Root Fly What We Talk About Why do we need to distinguish between men and women when it comes to environmentalism?  Isn't it fair to say some women are interested in improving and caring for their environment and some aren't, and this is the case too with men?  The feminisation of responsibility as it relates to climate change Why women are more affected by climate change than men Women and the control of the means of polluting production  Why women lack the opportunity to generate a larger climate footprint Women who are making a difference About The Natural Affinity Garden Aspens will partner with garden designer Camellia Taylor to create a show garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (23 – 27 May 2023), supported by Project Giving Back. Aspens is a social care charity that provides high quality care and support topeople on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities, and their families in the South-East. The Natural Affinity Garden for Aspens, is one of six All About Plants gardens being supported by Project Giving Back in 2023. It will encourage a connection with nature and maximise the benefits to a visitor's wellbeing by engaging with the seven senses (touch, taste, scent, sight, sound, movement and temperature). Each planting zone of the design targets specific senses and every aspect of the planting has been included for sensory stimulation. The dominant use of green in the garden provides an overall feeling of calm for those with hyper-sensitivity (sensory avoidant) and subtle additions of purple and yellow provide stimulation and interaction for those with hypo-sensitivity (sensory seeking). After the show, the garden will be relocated to the heart of Aspens' Kent site, where it will provide a rich, therapeutic haven for the charity's community. The Natural Affinity Garden for Aspens' designer Camellia Taylor has a background in psychology and health care and has worked on previous projects with Aspens. She has a strong connection with the charity's core values of empowerment, inclusivity and integrity and is passionate about supporting their vision for an inclusive society where people with disabilities can thrive. Links www.aspens.org.uk World Autism Awareness Week - The National Autistic Society Social Stories Autism Training  Other episodes if you liked this one: Making Gardening Accessible with Mark Lane Gardening for Your Senses Patreon Membership

Garden designer Camellia Taylor came to the discipline via work with young people on the autism spectrum, women that had experienced domestic violence and a Masters in speech and language therapy.During a career break prompted by the birth of her two children she began to connect her interest in psychology with nature and a passion for plants. She went on to study for her RHS Level 2 and a garden design qualification at Hadlow College after which she set her own design studio in Kent.She cemented the integration of nature and psychology with an Eco-sensory course and it is central to the way she works with clients on her garden designs. This includes close attention to the needs, sometimes conflicting, of the users of the garden, catering to the different senses and the many qualities of plants.Taylor is currently working on a sensory garden for charity Aspens which provides residential living for people on the autism spectrum and learning disabilities as well as day facilities. She talks about how her association with Aspens came about and how a proposal from Project Giving Back led her to become the designer of The Natural Affinity Garden - set to be showcased at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this May.She says: "I think Project Giving Back is incredible; it's such a great opportunity. It shines a light on charities that otherwise wouldn't be there... it gives designers a chance to be at this incredible show... they link the designer and the charity together so beautifully."Using a muted colour palette provides a calming environment for those on the autistic spectrum but, as Taylor explains, stimulation can be found by actively engaging with the planting through taste, hearing and the garden's tactile qualities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are called to witness to our faith; that we believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We testify by what and how we do the work that we do. We are called to serve. Serve one another and love one another. That will be the testimony of our community. Today, we are a stand of Aspens that remain connected in the one Lord, in the one Church, at the one Table, in the one Faith. (Read more…)Here is my homily for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time. I hope you enjoy this and please feel free to share it with others.

The inspiration for the episode: libraford: I think part of the issue is people assuming that everyone MUST want to move upwards. Like... it's the next logical step for a person to want to move up the chain: from worker to manager, to district manager, eventually owner. But I always think of growth like plants. Aspens grow tall to reach the sun, for sure. But dandelions grow deep, understanding themselves fully so that if some misguided fool tries to uproot them they'd have to try damn hard. And then there's thyme and other creeping plants, which spread themselves out so much that if you chop a part of it off it roots wherever it can find dirt to root in. It's okay not to have lofty dreams. You know what kind of plant you are better than anyone else.WATCH: www.youtube.com/juliemericaGET A MONTHLY NOTE FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comBUY SOME MERCH: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/make-your-damn-bed-podcast?ref_id=27657TUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcast Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a week! Back in October we lived the fantasies of fall fishing! It truly is what everyone talks about! We had our best day on the water so far as we caught upwards of 40 fish! The bite was hot Hot HOT! Underneath a granite peak, join us and relive the joys of excellent fall brook trout fishing with a very rare surprise catch! **This is the last week of our raffle and marabou jig giveaway! Become a patron at patreon.com/hookemhigh to enter!**Riddle:If riches you so desireThis lake is one that holds enough to make you a sire!Through canyon roads and off some,Behind giants and in the shadows, the lake does roam.Aspens, pines, and the brush are the levels you must cross,Pull the sword from the stone and you'll be the boss!Do not doddle at the lakes below,They are just decoys and sails the won't bestowMake it up and then you'll seeThe shimmering beauty of the coins plentyIntro and outro music by Secret Robot who is part of the group Hunny Glaze. You can find more of his music and content on Spotify and other music media sources. Collapsible Fishing Rod and Reel Tired of losing part of your rod like Kent on long trips? Get this foldable rod!Jake's Lure The lure that slays on Tigers and BrookiesGold Lil' Jake's Drive the Tiger Trout crazy with this gold lure!Black Marabou Jig Zach's favorite lure to use on the high mountain lakes! And you get 6 of them!Insta-Pot Kent's most efficient way to cook his catch!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club – Mesic Michiganhttp://thunderingaspenssportsmanclub.com/about/ Ken Herman – sportsman, teacher, coach, business leaderKen is passionate about teaching and coaching kids in sports and life. Joe Darkangelo is an entrepreneur but formerly served as a firefighter and police officer Joe wants to make a difference in people's life. Isaac Darkangelo, his nephew is playing linebacker for the University of Illinois and having a great season at 7-1! How you prepare for a hunt is similar to how you prepare for victory in life. Take counsel from people who have the expertise and it can make a difference in your life. Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club – Mesic, Michigan Jonathan Wright – World-Class and World Champion Taxidermy Artist A family business run by Jonathan, Jason, and Gregory Wright brothers. People love being around people who are “all in” and enjoying and maximizing life! Following the basics in any pursuit is critical for success. “There is no better way to spend your life than in the service of others.” Ceaser Guerini Shotguns https://gueriniusa.com/shotguns/forum-sporting/ Field Sport – Purveyor to the Wingshooterhttps://www.fieldsportltd.com/ Book Recommendations Leading with a Limp – Turning Your Struggles Into Strengths - Dan Allender Whale Done – The Power of Positive Relationships – Ken Blanchard The Obstacle is the Way – The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph – Ryan Holiday  “Shoot and Move – always work to improve your fighting position.” US Army Rangers

On this episode of Slip The Jab, Yan Xiaonan def. Mackenzie Dern via majority decision, but left both guys wondering, where the 10-8 at though bro? We recap all the bonuses and highlights of UFC Vegas 61, Lino begs Mackenzie Dern to never change her style of shorts. The guys discuss the conspiracy of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg buying out the Apex, whether they would do the same, and Lino goes on a heated rant about the Zuck needing to step down as the CEO of Meta. Lino asks Ian to do an Ianalysis on why the UFC cards have been so bad lately and why the UFC thinks it's okay to take weeks off so close together, we talk Uncle Dana showing off his physique and being obsessed with knowing when he's going to die, and if we would want to know ourselves. We also talk Big Mouth Kevin Holland retiring, Aspen Ladd getting released and signing with the PFL, Aspens mother being on Only Fans, and preview the quadriology between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno. Lino has a heart to heart with Ian about something he said on Episode 143, and shows respect to a rap legend passing with this weeks Post Fight Song of the Week. Support the show (https://slipthejabpodcast.com/support-the-show)VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://slipthejabpodcast.comSLIP THE JAB MERCH: https://slipthejabpodcast.com/shopALSO AVAILABLE ON:Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/STJSpotifyApple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/STJApplePodcastsFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Twitter: https://twitter.com/slipthejabpodABOUT US: Unfiltered and unscripted, hosts Lino P and Ian Ebbitt pull no punches as they offer up entertaining insight into the world of combat sports and current events. Two guys from a huge fight town called Pittsburgh, bringing you a weekly podcast smothered in realness, sprinkled with humor and served with a side of whiskey neat. Light your cigars and bring your opinions… we certainly brought ours.Amazon Smile Link: https://smile.amazon.comSet Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Foundation as your charity of choice.

The Autumn Equinox makes a change for the fall garden.  It marks the most important gardening of the season.  Fall mums, bright red maples and the gold of Aspens all show signs of change.  Fall is the best time to plant large trees and evergreens like spruce.  We go into detail about all things Autumn; you will be a garden pro after this weeks show.For more visit signalsaz.com/category/mountain-gardener/Follow Cast11 on Facebook: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network/Listen to Mountain Gardener on Cast11: https://mountaingardener.buzzsprout.com or wherever you stream podcasts.Follow Cast11 on Facebook: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network/Listen to Mountain Gardener on Cast11: https://mountaingardener.buzzsprout.com or wherever you stream podcasts.

The Autumn Equinox makes a change for the fall garden.  It marks the most important gardening of the season.  Fall mums, bright red maples and the gold of Aspens all show signs of change.  Fall is the best time to plant large trees and evergreens like spruce.  We go into detail about all things Autumn; you will be a garden pro after this weeks show. For more visit signalsaz.com/category/mountain-gardener/Follow Cast11 on Facebook: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network/Listen to Mountain Gardener on Cast11: https://mountaingardener.buzzsprout.com or wherever you stream podcasts. 

WOW… RHOBH! Aspen will never be the same. Kathy's sweat pants. Kendall Jenner's Tequila. Erika's earrings. Kyle's hats. But more importantly, WHAT A CLIFFHANGER!! There is so much to discuss… you'll just have to listen now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cynthia Fowler is the Executive Director at The Aspens on Verdae. We have a great conversation on Independent Living for Seniors. 

Gary Peterson and Jordan Orwig of SavATree discuss a fairly new infestation found on Aspen trees called Oystershell Scale.  They describe what it looks like, the life cycle and the challenges to control it.  Including some interesting facts about Aspens.  Plus those large mosquito looking Crane Flies, understanding irrigation requirements for lawns and less toxic uses for plant care.

We were a little star struck this episode, having the opportunity to chat with Dr. Doug Tallamy, professor of entomology at the University of Delaware and author of several best selling books on conservation, sustainable gardening and insects  Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees In this interview we focused on his recent paper in Nature Communications about the key trees that support 80% - yes you read that right, 80% of the lepidoptera species in North America.  If you can include some of these trees in your yard, garden, farm you will be helping these critical insects immeasurably. You can find this important paper at this link: Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species Narango, D.L., Tallamy, D.W. & Shropshire, K.J. Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species. Nat Commun 11, 5751 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19565-4 From this paper the top 5 genera were:  Quercus (‘Oaks', mean score: 0.79), Salix (‘Willows', 0.55), Prunus (‘Cherries, Plums, Peaches, etc.', 0.51), Pinus (‘Pines', 0.46), and Populus (‘Poplars, Aspens, and Cottonwoods', 0.44). Dr. Tallamy has several excellent youtube videos, a recent one on keystone plants is: Native Keystone Plants for Wildlife - Doug Tallamy You Tube     Our theme music was composed and performed by Heather's son Callum, and the challenging job of audio editing done by the uber-talented Laura Eccleston.

Read or listen to the morning news headlines for Friday, Nov. 5, 2021.

Is the weather starting to change where you live? Autumn has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere and this week Kim and Tamara talk about where they have visited recently for fall travel and some other fall favorites. Full Episode Transcript [00:00:00.000] - Kim Tate It's time to fall into fall travel.   [00:00:14.670] - Announcer Welcome to Vacation Mavens, a family travel podcast with ideas for your next vacation and tips to get you out the door. Here are your hosts, Kim from Stuffed Suitcase and Tamara from We3Travel.   [00:00:29.180] - Tamara Gruber So Kim, by the time this comes out, it's going to be less than a month from Halloween. Do your girls still do stuff for Halloween, or do they dress up or do they go on any haunted hay rides or any of those kind of things they have done?   [00:00:42.560] - Kim Tate We have haunted corn mazes and stuff down here, and they normally get together with friends. And there's some kind of youth event that happens at some of the local farms and pumpkin patches and stuff. And we've been known to go to the pumpkin patches and do some of the kiddish activities. But with Mia being 14 now, she's kind of at the cusp of that, and she's got a sweet heart, so she still likes it. But she's not quite into all the activities as much anymore.   [00:01:10.100] - Tamara Gruber No more trick or treating?   [00:01:11.930] - Kim Tate She actually mentioned because they didn't go last year, and she said, I think I'm going to go this year. It'll be with her best friend. She's like, it'll be our last year, and we're going to go for it. And I said, go do it. That's awesome.   [00:01:23.240] - Tamara Gruber So yeah, I'm waiting to see what Hannah will do. I know her friends have really been trying to convince her to do some kind of haunted house hayride kind of thing. To me, the whole idea of a haunted corn maze sounds absolutely terrifying. Something could just jump out of you. I don't like jump scares either. As a teen, I did do a haunted hayride, but at least then you know, the direction they're coming from. They only come outside, and I can kind of sit in the middle in a little safer, but right down the street for me, they have some kind of I don't even know I've never gone, but it's this whole horror thing in one of the parks that you kind of walk through.   [00:02:00.240] - Tamara Gruber So it's a little bit more of a walk through type of thing, but they've not convinced her. So I don't know about trick or treating, though, because last year obviously no trick or treating. The year before she was going to go with one friend, but then it ended up raining. So I think they decided just to stay home and hand out candy instead. I'm not sure if there'll be one last or she'll just stay home, and we usually try to do Apple picking or some kind of visit to a farm this year.   [00:02:27.240] - Tamara Gruber I've already gone and picked up Apple cider Donuts for her. I think she's just so busy she can't really see about it this year. I'm trying to still give all the fall treats. Here's some Apple cider and Apple cider Donuts. And I made pumpkin pie dip when we had some people over recently in our backyard. And so as she's getting the fall stuff without the scary stuff, that's cool.   [00:02:52.230] - Kim Tate I grew up in Kansas City, and when I was a teenager, there's this area. And I can't even think because I know it's something like all the Kansas City listeners are going to be laughing that I can't think of this. I want to say it's something like the flats or the bottoms, or I can't remember. But there's this area in Kansas City, and it's like, known for having some of the creepiest most amazing haunted houses. And because it's this old warehouse district, right. And they would dress them all up and everything.   [00:03:19.730] - Kim Tate And that was the thing that we always did as teens. And I'm kind of glad that my girls haven't gotten into that. I do know there's one up north, that's kind of a haunted house type thing in a warehouse. But other than the corn maze, there's not as much around here, but I remember as a kid those things that freak me out so mad.   [00:03:38.260] - Tamara Gruber I'm starting to wonder if it like, haunted or not haunted, but it's just general, like, really creepy lawn decorations are like the new holiday lights. You know, how people know, there's the houses that do a really good holiday lights, and they drive around and look at them. The other day, I was driving and a home from practice, and there's a house that is absolutely terrifying. I don't know what's wrong with the people that live there, but there's basically a 15 foot skeleton. Then there's a whole line of super creepy zombie dudes.   [00:04:09.280] - Tamara Gruber And then out of the corner of my eye, I see it's got to be like, ten foot tall pig with a giant knife and an apron on. And I'm like, Where do you even find this bizarre stuff? I really need to go buy the house and take a picture of it. But I'm scared that if I do, I don't know somebody who's a little disturbed in there.   [00:04:31.390] - Kim Tate Yeah, I think I saw something a while back that spending for spending for decorations and all that stuff on Halloween is second only to Christmas.   [00:04:42.320] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, it's so easy. And I were talking about all the houses that we used to never be able to go to when she was little. There was the house with the giant Spider. No, we had to skip that one. There was the one that had the little smoke tunnel you went through. We had to skip that one because she was scared of everything when she was little. So we were laughing about that. But not everything has changed because, yeah, I know, literally, we couldn't even go down certain aisles and target because if something started to move and make noise, she'd have a little breakdown.   [00:05:10.370] - Tamara Gruber Oh, man, she's not the haunted house type. That's for sure.   [00:05:14.760] - Kim Tate Yeah.   [00:05:15.470] - Tamara Gruber Well, there's lots of other fun things to do, though. You just went and did some haunted kind of stuff. I know I saw your picture when you're in Disneyland, and I'm like, Whoa, that looks kind of crazy for Disneyland. But tell me what you did when you were just down in California.   [00:05:29.370] - Kim Tate Yeah. So for those of you who know Disneyland, they actually do a lot of seasonal parties. And starting in September, they do a Halloween time at Disneyland Resort, and they go out. They kind of decorate the parks with beautiful Orange swags, and they have some hand carved pumpkins decorating Main Street. And then they do a few other things this year, they have quite a cool area back in one of the regions for Coco and Dia des Muertes. And then some celebrations around that as well. And then the bigger thing that you saw my picture of was they have parties called Oogie Boogie Bash, and it's kind of crazy how expensive it can be, especially for a family, because they sell these bash party tickets in addition to your park ticket.   [00:06:19.400] - Kim Tate But you don't have to have a park ticket for this party, which is kind of nice. So you can theoretically go to the parks with normal park ticket and then buy one of these. And you can get in 3 hours before your park before the party starts. You can get in at 03:00 p.m. When the party starts at six. And so some people choose to do that, but they are sold out. So if anyone's hearing this, you need to be looking ahead to 2022 if you're thinking of doing kind of a Disneyland and fall.   [00:06:45.290] - Kim Tate But you can still go to Disneyland and celebrate stuff during the Halloween time celebrations. They do a ride overlay for Haunted Mansion, which is called Haunted Mansion Holiday. And it's got Jack Skellington, and he kind of takes over the ride. And sorry for Disney people. I should say the attraction. But anyways, so he takes that over and that lasts all for Christmas because it's kind of like him like that spooky mixed with Christmas season. So it's kind of fun thing. And then they also do cars Land also gets a big makeover and becomes radiator screams, which is kind of funny. And they do a lot of fun, like car part themed, like spiders made out of engines. And, you know, Crow bar stuff. And then they've got these fun cones and tire eyes. And each of the two rides that are not the main radio racers. Each of the two rides get a makeover with fun music and theming around Halloween. So they do that. And then the last one is Guardians of the Galaxy, which used to be Tower of Terror.   [00:07:45.380] - Kim Tate It gets a makeover at night. So kind of later afternoon evenings, it becomes Guardians of the Galaxy, Monsters after dark. And so the theming of the ride, like the story that you see on the screens and the music changes, and it can be pretty intense and scary, I think, for some people. So anyway, that's kind of the thing at Disneyland, but the OG Boogie bash party is something different. And that's what I showed your picture of. Yeah.   [00:08:10.200] - Tamara Gruber Well, I mean, Tower of Terror or Guardians of the Galaxy. The attraction itself is scary to me with that one.   [00:08:18.930] - Kim Tate I know. I see that one I can't handle. My stomach can't handle it.   [00:08:23.210] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. So how long do they keep that theming before they switch over to Christmas stuff?   [00:08:28.900] - Kim Tate so this actually is ending October 31 for the season. Sometimes it goes to the first day or two of November. I think it depends on how the week falls, but there's a chance you'll see some stuff. Still, if you're there on November 1 as they take it down. But they're pretty good about getting those holiday things up. And then right back down and then the Halloween decorations will be gone. And then you'll have until about the second week of November. I think this year it's November 12 is when the holiday overlay starts happening and kind of comes alive.   [00:09:02.960] - Kim Tate And then they'll have some festival, the holidays, events that celebrate not just Christmas. So they tried to bring in like Hannukkah and Kwanza and Three Kings Day, so they're trying to make it a little more open to everyone. And then they also just launched this brand new party thing. It's just kind of like the Oogie Boogie bash party called Merriest Nights, which is a ticketed event. There's still a couple of tickets for two days open for that one. So if you did want to do holidays in Disneyland, you could look into that.   [00:09:31.820] - Tamara Gruber Yeah.   [00:09:32.510] - Kim Tate So there's a little about ten to 14 days that you get the parks without anything. And then it goes from Halloween time to Christmas time. Or I guess I should say holiday time, out of time, festive season, winter festivities. Yeah.   [00:09:50.540] - Tamara Gruber And they do some similar things, but different at Walt Disney World, right?   [00:09:54.870] - Kim Tate Yeah. So the big news with Walt Disney World right now, they are doing like a boo bash thing. That's an after hour ticketed event. I haven't heard as much about it. I don't know how big of a hit it was. And then they normally do some kind of Christmas thing. They've announced a few things down there. But the big news for Disney World right now is that October 1 is the start of their 50th anniversary celebration, and they've kind of gone all in on decor and merchandise and special things around that.   [00:10:23.730] - Kim Tate So if you are headed to Florida and Walt Disney World this fall and winter, you'll be kind of looking at that 50th anniversary. Definitely. Check out the two Halloween and winter holiday activities that they have and parties.   [00:10:39.310] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. It's good to know, too, that you need to plan in advance for some of these, or at least you might get lucky with some tickets, but it makes sense to try to think ahead.   [00:10:48.730] - Kim Tate Yeah, especially since you have to make reservations for all the park. Still. So you still have to be making you buy your tickets and make your park day reservations and stuff. And park hopping is very limited. So you pick the park, you're going to start it, and then you can't go to another park until 01:00 p.m.. I'm not quite sure on the timing at Walt Disney World.   [00:11:08.590] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, it's even more complicated.   [00:11:11.280] - Kim Tate More exactly, even more planning than it already has been. But, yeah, that's just a little bit of fall holidays. But what about in your neck of the Woods, about fall seasonal stuff? What kind of things are you for? Travel wise? What do you know about what do you hear about?   [00:11:30.200] - Tamara Gruber Well, we're kind of in that time where everybody wants to go all type of fall here in New England, but I just got back from a trip to the Finger Lakes in New York, and that's definitely a great destination. We were there for the grape harvest. You know, it always varies a little bit on timing when that's going to be, but definitely a fun time. And we have a beautiful weekend. It was low 70s or high 60s, but sunny, and it was just such a perfect we I went with two of my College friends, and we had a blast because I've talked about the Finger Lakes before.   [00:12:06.840] - Tamara Gruber This time I stayed in Ithaca. I was actually hosted at Hotel Ithaca in downtown Ithaca, which is home to Cornell and Ithaca College. It has that College town vibe. In the past, I've stayed at on a different Lake. I've stayed Ithaca right near Cayuga Lake, and in the past I've stayed at Watkins Glen, which is on Seneca Lake. And then one time, I took Hannah to the Finger Lakes, and we stayed in Hammondsport or Corning, which is on Keuka Lake. So there's actually eleven Lakes in the Finger Lakes region, and there's over 100 wineries.   [00:12:39.510] - Tamara Gruber And there's also a ton of craft breweries. There's distilleries, there's tons of cideries, there's tons of farms. So we did a really nice mix of, like, some wine tasting. And we also went to a cider place. But we also did agritourism types of things because it's beautiful up there. It's kind of like a little bit hilly between the Lakes. So there's so many farms or wineries where you're looking down a gentle slope to the Lake in the distance. It just gives such a pretty backdrop. And the leaves there are just starting to change.   [00:13:12.610] - Tamara Gruber So I think in the next couple of weeks, it's going to be really nice. We started with a boat tour with Discover Cayuga Lake, and that was like a little sunset cruise. They do a whole bunch of different Eco cruises. And then the next day, we went to their farmers market in Ithaca, which is like amazing tons of food and beautiful produce. Wineries, cideries, honey, there's local apiaries, so many nice things. We picked up some breakfast there and sat at a picnic table by the Lake and just enjoyed that.   [00:13:45.400] - Tamara Gruber And then we did a couple of tastings at wineries like a pairing with everyone had a charcuterie board, too. And it was just like a really nicely paced, like, really good, relaxing, enjoyable pairing. And then we did a blind tasting somewhere, which is a lot of fun. And then we visited a goat farm. And then yesterday we went to an alpaca farm. I don't know if you got a chance to see my Instagram stories on that, but they're so cute.   [00:14:13.240] - Kim Tate Sweet. Did you buy some alpaca socks or Wolf?   [00:14:17.760] - Tamara Gruber I bought plenty. I had held back at the farmers market and all these other places, but then I was like, okay, I'm supporting the economy right here, which is nice because it's a family on farm. We had signed up to do a farm tour and to take the alpacas for a walk. And I can just say from a wellness perspective, getting to see and interact with really cute, adorable animals is just really nice. It gives such a good feeling, right? Yeah. But yes, I bought a hat, which maybe I'll bring with me to Portugal.   [00:14:51.940] - Tamara Gruber Maybe you'll get to see it. I bought a little scarf. I bought this adorable little fluff ball thing that looks like an alpaca for Hannah, because that was the one thing I always say these days. She's not very jealous of when I go away and do things like she still enjoys when we get to do things together. But she's so busy and stuff going on with her own life that she's not like, oh, I wish I could come with the one. I told her I was going to an Alpaca farm.   [00:15:16.990] - Tamara Gruber She's like, Can you send me pictures?   [00:15:20.020] - Kim Tate Well, I'm jealous. Definitely. I can't wait to see your hat. I hope you do bring it because is it like a felted wool hat?   [00:15:26.650] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, it's kind of. I don't know what kind of like a news boy hat.   [00:15:31.760] - Kim Tate Oh, yes. I don't know what that's called. The sweeper.   [00:15:37.760] - Tamara Gruber Yeah.   [00:15:38.430] - Kim Tate Yeah.   [00:15:39.450] - Tamara Gruber I'm not a fashion person, as you know, I'm not a fashion person.   [00:15:42.030] - Kim Tate But I know I should know what that's called, but I can't think of it right now. Okay, cool.   [00:15:46.230] - Tamara Gruber So that's definitely one great destination. And I can see just from the traffic on my website. Like, what the other popular things to do are. I think even back to last year, last year, we did some family glamping, and I did some glamping on my own, and I think that that's a really nice time to do it before it gets too cold. The nights are crisp and the days are nice. You're not, like sweating in the tent. It's kind of perfect camping or glamping.   [00:16:15.590] - Kim Tate Kind of want the fires at night and stuff.   [00:16:18.550] - Tamara Gruber Exactly. So I think that's a really fun thing to do now. And there's so many places to do that now. I have a whole post on my website about places to go glamping in New England and new ones keep cropping up, which is great. But I know Vermont and New Hampshire are super popular. I think some people come a little bit too late, so just keep track of every state puts out a fall foliage kind of tracker. I have a blog post on my website about following road trips in New England, and I have links to each of those state trackers, so you can see when they expect it to be peak and stuff like that.   [00:16:56.060] - Tamara Gruber But basically the further north you go, the early it's going to be. So things are starting to really pop right now in New Hampshire, in Vermont and Maine, and that's going to continue to kind of work its way south. So one of the things that we like to do is in New Hampshire, there's a scenic drive called the Kancamagus Highway, and I have a post about all the scenic spots to stop along there.   [00:17:23.560] Nice.   [00:17:24.040] - Tamara Gruber And that is now kind of doing really well on the website. And I have a post about New York road trips to take in the fall and Vermont. I know I've been getting a lot of messages from people like, what should I do in Vermont? All of how many people are open to and yeah, exactly. The thing to think about, though, is that it's total leaf peeping season, and it is hard to find hotels on certain weekends, especially the three day weekend in October can be really tough.   [00:17:55.110] - Tamara Gruber So you might need to, you know, try to search early. It's a little bit late for that, but try to look for maybe Airbnb or VRBO or the Glamping and things like that to try to find some alternatives cool or just plan for 220 and 22. What about by you? Do you have other I mean, I'm sure between, like, Apple season and wine harvest, you must have so many great places to go for fall by you as well.   [00:18:19.280] - Kim Tate I was going to say I think Washington State is definitely a big gem for October trips or fall seasonal trips, especially people think about New England, but if you look, it's latitude, right? Not longitude. Yeah. Latitudes. We're kind of similar. And even though we are like the evergreen state, there's a lot of aspens and poplars and Maple trees out here, and we get some beautiful fall colors mixed in with the green trees. So I definitely think that in Washington State, October is also just a really nice temperature.   [00:18:53.680] - Kim Tate If you want to do hiking or drives, you definitely do have to prepare for dreary weather. I'll call it because it's not necessarily always rainy. But dreary is definitely the right word. And fall is when we do get most of our wind storms. We don't have, like, thunderstorms like I grew up with in the Midwest. But we have these massive wind storms, and that normally is in the fall when that can be a problem. So that is something to keep in mind. But otherwise, it's just so nice here.   [00:19:24.150] - Kim Tate The temperatures are so mild, and it's like you said, with glamping and things. It's cool in the evenings, but can kind of get a little warm in the in the daytime, but not too much. It depends how much of the cloud cover Burns off. But I think kind of like with the Finger Lakes. The big thing out here is the fact that it's harvest season. And there are a lot of fall festivals and wine crushing events. And I know that Chelan, which is a very popular vacation destination for Seattle people.   [00:19:52.630] - Kim Tate It's kind of a Lake community destination out here. And they have a massive fall festival that lasts from October through Thanksgiving. And so you can find stuff happening all the time there with different vendors and activities and things like that. And they have, like, an evening. They have family events during the day, and then they have these evening haunted things as well. So it's kind of a big destination. So if you're in Washington state, Chelan is kind of a big thing. And then, of course, some people may have heard of the little town of Leavenworth, which is a Bavarian village out here in Washington.   [00:20:26.820] - Kim Tate It's about, I'd say, about 2 hours from Seattle, probably it depends what traffic's like. And when you're going. And it is known for first, it's October Fest because of the fact that it's a Bavarian town. So it's very German inspired. And they do a big October festival. But then they also do a big holiday lights festival and that's very popular local. So those are kind of the main things I'm thinking about here, of course, like you said, with apples, there's a lot of cider events happening.   [00:20:56.800] - Kim Tate So if you like to drink cider, Washington State is a great place for that as well. And I think Oregon is pretty big in breweries and cideries and stuff as well. And of course, they have their whole Willamette Valley for wine. So they're pretty big as well in the fall embibing travel. Maybe that should be a term. But yeah. So those are kind of the big things that I can think of. I've heard also that I am not a fan of mushrooms, but supposedly Washington has a big mushroom festival as well.   [00:21:28.850] - Kim Tate I guess October is a good mushroom season. So if you know.   [00:21:32.620] - Tamara Gruber A and the Finger Lakes, there is a mushroom spirits distillery. Okay. I don't know much about distilleries. You know, obviously, they're they're made from many different things from vodkas.   [00:21:43.720] - Kim Tate Potatoes, but you never know exactly like.   [00:21:46.770] - Tamara Gruber I don't know what that would be like.   [00:21:49.050] - Kim Tate No idea.   [00:21:49.570] - Tamara Gruber I also saw that they were having an Apple Fest in Ithaca, like next weekend. Definitely. The Apple Fest is huge. Yeah.   [00:21:58.330] - Kim Tate We also have Washington state and even in Oregon and stuff. It's really, really big. I know you have this on the East Coast too, but pumpkin patches and corn mazes. It's just huge. Like I mentioned with when I was talking about what the kids do with the haunted corn maze and all that stuff. It's insane. In our little area. We have probably seven pumpkin patches and corn maze and stuff we could choose to go to. So, I mean, some are definitely bigger than others, but it's a huge thing out here in Washington are the at least at Western Washington is the pumpkin patches and all that stuff.   [00:22:31.820] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, it's definitely big here, too. We have were small state, but we have quite a few in Rhode Island, and then in Massachusetts, there's some super massive ones. I remember taking Hannah to one in Rhode Island, one where the parents didn't go in. We kind of stood outside and chatted, and then we're like, it's been a really long time. Are they ever going to make their way out? But that wasn't haunted. It was just during the day, regular regular comes. But yeah, there's so many fun things to do.   [00:23:01.620] - Tamara Gruber It's outside and a lot of the farms by us. They'll bring in food trucks and live music and sometimes like, little kiddie rides. You definitely do the wagon rides into the pumpkin patch.   [00:23:14.380] - Kim Tate Hay rides, and there's normally some animal.   [00:23:18.700] - Tamara Gruber Some cows, petting Zoo kind of thing. And then there's all kinds of great baked goods. And I love this time of year. I will still always love summer more, and I try to really get out and appreciate fall when I can, because it's just so short for us. September through mid to late. October is beautiful. You still see blue skies. The weather is great. This year has been fantastic, but by November it's Brown and Gray, so it's over. It's done. So I try to take it in as much as I can.   [00:23:57.470] - Tamara Gruber Now, even I'm sitting here looking at my window, like, Why didn't I go for a walk out?   [00:24:02.190] - Kim Tate You can still go.   [00:24:03.970] - Tamara Gruber I know. I have to get work.   [00:24:06.440] - Kim Tate I can still go. I'm with you. I definitely prefer summer. And being in Seattle, we don't have that nice blue sky. Fall day in Seattle is celebrated as if it's the best thing in the world because it's when the cloud cover definitely moves in. So that is one kind of bummer, but we definitely keep our green. I mean, I love the fact that we have green trees all year round, so there's a payoff to it.   [00:24:35.080] - Tamara Gruber Well, I think for people that are looking for some fall color and stuff a little bit later in the season because I've had people reach out to me like, we're coming to Boston in November and where can we see the best? I'm like over one, but you think about a Great Smoky Mountain National Park and so many parts of Tennessee, North Carolina, the Northern Georgia mountains that gets it in Yosemite and stuff as well. That too.   [00:25:02.710] - Kim Tate It's absolutely gorgeous in the fall.   [00:25:04.880] - Tamara Gruber And I know you mentioned Aspens. I definitely see, like in Colorado, they are really popping right now.   [00:25:09.560] - Kim Tate Like, Vail is gorgeous right now.   [00:25:11.510] - Tamara Gruber Not everything is on our time schedule since we're up here further to the north.   [00:25:18.480] - Kim Tate Well, and then we headed in November will be heading down to Arizona. And so for those people who are looking to start escaping that dreary winter, moving in the south, especially Arizona in the fall can be amazing. I'm looking forward to spending a few hours by the pool with you.   [00:25:38.460] - Tamara Gruber I'm kind of hoping that this year we can go back to previous years where I can escape my drink Gray dreary winter with some Sunshine if you the winter. So, knock wood, because Arizona. And then we're supposed to, as I mentioned, go to Aruba, and then we'll see how it all goes. But I really look forward to those little bits of Sunshine in the middle of the cold is that we have well.   [00:26:05.800] - Kim Tate And for those people that are looking for that are into cruising. I know Thanksgiving cruises are very popular. I do feel like they're doing limited capacity on ships because it seems like prices are not really moving on cruises. You're not going to be getting a steal of a deal. And I think getting to choose your cabin, it's going to be limited as well. But I don't know how long that's going to be kept up, but cruising is always kind of a fun fall getaway because you normally head somewhere warm.   [00:26:34.980] - Kim Tate I know the fall is really popular for a lot of Seattle people. They go down to Cabo and that area of Mexico in the fall.   [00:26:41.980] - Tamara Gruber So here's to a good fall. I feel like I need to go pour myself some Apple cider right now.   [00:26:47.830] - Kim Tate I'm jealous of the Apple cider Donuts. Do you know that I've never had Apple cider?   [00:26:51.550] - Tamara Gruber Donuts?   [00:26:51.940] - Kim Tate I don't think I ever have, and I would love them. They sound amazing. I've had pumpkin spice Donuts and I've had lots of fresh Apple cider, but Apple cider Donuts. I don't think I've ever had one.   [00:27:01.480] - Tamara Gruber See, now I'm going to see you soon, and I would happily bring you some Apple cider Donuts. But I will say there are nothing like getting a hot, fresh, fresh one cider donut. So can you just come visit me next fall? Yes, I will have to.   [00:27:16.960] - Kim Tate That's a plan. Let's make it happen. 2022 New England or Bust. Yeah.   [00:27:22.400] - Tamara Gruber New England. You should see New England in the fall for sure.   [00:27:26.030] - Kim Tate Yeah, definitely.   [00:27:26.990] - Tamara Gruber Yeah.   [00:27:27.530] - Kim Tate Well, you'll be my tour guide, so I think we can make that happen. It's always so busy. Like I just got back from a trip. And why is the fall always so busy with work?   [00:27:37.210] - Tamara Gruber Stuff. I know as excited as I am about Portugal. And I know that we're going to get a little taste of all there, too, because we're going to be there during their wine harvest. And we're going to get to in some of those wine events. And for those of you that are listening, pop over to Instagram and check out our Instagram accounts because we're going to be doing some really cool things, like hot air balloon and some very special wine events. And so staying at some really interesting, amazing hotels sounds like it's going to be awesome.   [00:28:09.740] - Kim Tate We're staying at some amazing places we are staying at. Now. This will give you guys a little idea, like work is work, and it's not always vacation. But we are staying at a new hotel almost every day. I think there's two times that we stay at a hotel two nights. Yeah. And we're there for 17 days. So just so you guys know, we are going to be sharing a lot. And we're not just in Lisbon, we're going to Porto and the sorts and Lisbon and and we're going to see a lot of the country.   [00:28:40.580] - Tamara Gruber And I think people are kind of used to seeing certain pictures from Lisbon in particular. And I no Porto is very popular as well. But we're going to get out into the countryside and show you and be able to help figure out what are the great itineraries to do. How can you organize it? So you're not visit our not a new hotel every night?   [00:29:01.640] - Kim Tate Yeah.   [00:29:02.180] - Tamara Gruber Exactly.   [00:29:02.740] - Kim Tate Well. And also knowing it to be a situation where it's like, what's worth? What are these gems that you're not realizing so that you're not just the standard tourists going to the Portugal is an amazing country. And so I'm so excited to get a feel for more of this country that I've already fallen in love with. And so I'm really excited about that and being able to share kind of the other because I think you and I have always said that there needs to be this balance with doing the standard touristy stuff.   [00:29:29.280] - Kim Tate It's a touristy thing for a reason. Most of the time it's worthwhile. And some you don't want to not see it. But you need to balance that with some more, not even off the beaten path, but more things that you wouldn't necessarily know about or think about. And that's why I'm so glad that we're working with the epic travel people because they're on the ground there, and they have all those little gems that they can help put us on that you and I I don't think we wouldn't necessarily have known to look for I'm really excited.   [00:29:56.480] - Tamara Gruber So of the regions we're on top of mind. Right. And then we're doing something like one of the big products in Portugal is cork. And so we're going to do a cork trekking hike. I can't wait where we're going to go and look and see how they would harvest it.   [00:30:16.380] - Tamara Gruber So there's so many interesting things, like digging deeper, traveling in a way that really gets to know the culture and totally up our alley. I'm super excited. So I know we were talking all about fall, and my whole point was as excited as I am about Portugal. I'm missing out on some of the best part of here in New England, but I'll take it. I agreed.   [00:30:39.170] - Kim Tate I mean, everything I'm looking at, it sounds like Portugal is going to be an amazing October destination. So if any of you are listening and thinking about October trips, definitely be following along Tamara again is @we3travel and I'm @stuffedsuitcase, and we will be sharing because from the research I'm doing, it seems seems like a great time to go.   [00:30:58.230] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. Definitely follow along when we come back. Our next episode is going to be all about our Portugal trip. So hopefully you'll follow along and then you'll want to hear even more about it. So you'll tune in next time.   [00:31:13.160] - Kim Tate Well, thanks for joining us, as always, and we hope that you have some wonderful fall travels or local adventures planned ahead. Tchau.  

Listen or watch on YouTube as Steve tells why no Volares (or Aspens) ever got factory dualexhaust, why a Jeep Wrangler body was bolted to a Prowler, if a Road Runner station wagon was ever offered and a lot, lot more.Now sponsored by High Octane Classics, the Northeast's largest musclecar and supercar dealership!!HIGH OCTAIN CLASSICShttps://www.highoctaneclassics.comSupport the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/1340482)

Welcome! So glad you joined us for our podcast where we talk about RVs, Leisure Travel Vans, Airstreams and more. In this episode, Ben and I talk about Janet and my upcoming trip to Colorado just in time to see the Aspens turn color.We also talk about the freedom our Leisure Travel Van gives us and how we like to camp.Curious how we run our air conditioner on battery?Custom Sink Cover / Cutting Board for LTVsWet Bay & Electric Essentials for your RVOur Must Have Gear for our Leisure Travel Van UnityInstagramCutting Board / Sink Cover for Leisure Travel Vans

Read for This Week's Study: Matt. 10:34–39, Luke 12:13–21, Phil. 2:5–8, Luke 22:14–30, Matt. 23:1–13.Memory Text: “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, therewill be disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:16, ESV).Aspens are beautiful trees, reaching 45 to 90 feet (15 to 30meters) in height. They thrive in cold climates with coolsummers. Their wood is used in furniture and also for mak-ing matches and paper. Deer and other animals often feed on youngaspen trees during hard winters, as their bark contains many nutri-ents. Aspens need lots of sunshine, and they grow all the time—evenin winter, making them important winter food sources for differentanimals.Aspens, however, are most notorious for the fact that they haveone of the largest root systems in the plant world. The roots spreadby underground suckers and form a colony that can spread relativelyquickly, covering large areas. Individual aspen trees can live up to150 years, but the larger organism below the ground can live forthousands of years.In this week's study, we want to discover some of the roots of ourrestlessness. There are many things that can prevent us from find-ing true rest in Jesus. Some of these are obvious and don't requiremuch attention. Others may be less obvious to us, and, as with thehuge aspen organism unseen beneath the ground, we may not alwaysbe conscious of the attitudes and actions that separate us from ourSavior.

In Nehemiah 11 we see how the community came together as each of them did the part that God needed them for. We need similar collaborative efforts in the church and our communities today. Speaker: Greg Holder

Kristine is full of energy. I love her positive energy. She didn't realize that writing would be her passion. Kristine loves writing so much that she can't stop thinking about it. I asked Kristine about a fun fact about her and she told me she loves chickens. She almost have a chicken farm. This interview is full of fun and life. ALL ABOUT KRISTINE: It wasn't until later in life that Kristine Raymond figured out what she wanted to be when she grew up, an epiphany that occurred in 2013 when she sat down and began writing her first novel. Over a dozen books in multiple genres later, there are a multitude of ideas floating around in her head thus assuring she'll never be idle. When a spare moment does present itself, she fills it by navigating the publishing and promotional side of the business. When not doing that, she spends time with her husband and furbabies (not necessarily in that order) at their home in south-central Kentucky, gardens, reads, or binge-watches Netflix. SEASONS OF LOVE is a collection of short stories to entertain throughout the year. Kristine released independently and the book is available worldwide in digital and print across all platforms. It's about..Four couples, Four seasons and A lifetime of love. 1)Dogwoods in Springtime-Still in mourning three years after her husband's death, Caroline Ballard's solitary life in rural Kentucky is disrupted by a broken water line, of all things. As if the lack of running water wasn't bad enough, her immediate attraction to plumbing contractor Rick Spencer unearths emotions long thought buried. Opening her heart to love for a second time, a malicious lie told by his ex-wife threatens to end the budding relationship before it begins. 2)Seashells in Summer - Having adopted her four-year-old daughter, Lily, at birth, Taylor Brightman is suspicious when former Marine Sergeant Grant Cutler appears on her Nantucket Island doorstep claiming to be the girl's biological father. Wary of his motives, his good looks and charming personality win her over, but can she trust that she won't lose custody along with her heart? 3)Aspens in Autumn-Ramsey Fiorentino is having a bad day. On the run for her life after witnessing a murder, she's being pursued by none other than Bishop Hamilton, a private investigator hired by the person who committed the crime. When he catches up to her and the truth comes out, they flee to the mountains of Flagstaff, Arizona to hide, but it's only a matter of time before their newfound romance is tested in the wake of a deadly confrontation. 4)Snowflakes in Winter When New Hampshire State Trooper Alex Ballard becomes stranded during a blizzard in the middle of the night, he seeks refuge at a local bed and breakfast, surprised to discover the owner, Chloe Mancuso, is the sole occupant. A passionate night spent in each other's arms ignites feelings neither thought possible, but there's someone else with his eye on Chloe and he's not willing to share. Kristine also have a new genre book called "Finn-Agled." To find out more, please visit her website at www.kristineraymond.com and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and BookBub. To request additional review copies or an interview with Kristine Raymond, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925. Make sure you check Kristine out!!!

If you're a parent and an entrepreneur, you know that managing your time and separating "family time" can be overwhelming. Fortunately it is not impossible, and on this episode of Bootstrappers, the Aspens will give out their secret sauce to grow a successful business and prepare two independent kids for success. Bootstrappers Show is powered by Anequim

Credits:Piano by Hudson Gardner, Fire cracklings by fire, Wind by Earth UntitledTrackless trackless mountain cloudwhat do I ask to be?To be you, to be you.Coming—going into nothingwhat do I ask to see?To see you, to see you.Trackless trackless mountain pathwhere do I ask to go?To find you, to find you.Trackless trackless meadow of flowersWhat do I ask of you?To believe you.To believe you.Does it ever feel, to you, like you are doing what you were made to do? I wonder if everyone has some feeling like that, at some point in their life. It comes in and out, like static on radio, for me.I think the idealized life is often said to be “in balance”—work-life balance, family balance, relationship balance, or balancing your checkbook (just kidding). Maybe a life that feels aligned is one of balance? Yet, for me, those moments where I feel properly “in the flow” aren’t continuous. Which leaves me wanting them when they are gone, which, in a way, creates imbalance.I read recently that the idea of balance in the natural world is actually misguided. The natural world is a chaotic series of successions. A forest burns and fireweed sprouts. Aspens, their roots underground and safe from fire, send up shoots in every direction, eventually shading out the fireweed and almost anything else. In fifty to a hundred years the aspens grow huge and die and fall, just in time for the seedlings of fir and pine and hemlock, which grew from seeds brought there and cached by birds and mammals, to rocket skyward.The idea of balance, this unattainable thing (if we’re being honest), is applied to human lives, since it exists in nature, right? What if it doesn’t exist in nature, what then? Maybe our lives are actually not meant to be balanced, and the attempt to seek some perfect balance is impossible. It makes us chase that “in the flow” feeling, which sets up life to be a series of ups and downs. Life is and always was and always will be a series of unpredictable events. There is no perpetual balance within uncertainty. Maybe life is more like an infinite act of rebalancing, or, you could say, flowing.And yet nature functions well, and we do too. Nature has us beat in that it does not worry about balance. It just expresses, in all its mystery, the breath of life. And I feel myself, myself, what I am made to do, if I am honest, is to do the same.Yesterday Anna and I drove the truck up the mountain to a creekside trail we found a year ago. We went down it together, amazed at the colors and motion of butterflies that seemed to spontaneously appear in the sunlight. The aspen trunks were white and snow lay in crevices along the path. We wound down to the river and walked along it for a while, then found a meadow. I set up my tent, just for fun, and used a small camp axe to buck some wood for whoever would have a fire there next. Anna laid in the sun, or watched the river flow by.Over Anna’s chest and down the left side of her body hung a massive, thick braid. I picked up the end of it. “Remember biking the road up to Big Bear?” I asked. “Yeah, I was just looking at photos from then”, she said, “and three years ago we did that ride. After we got back I went up to Washington and stayed with Brit and Sam and then went to my mom’s house and cut off all my hair.” “Three years of growth,” I said pulling lightly at her thick braid.To realize three years had passed since then felt funny and sad at the same time. Because, mostly, this flow of experiences we name Life doesn’t always flow easily or clearly. The pain of the turns can be acute. And yet, they all flow together somewhere, and get bunched up in memory, and then you can sit on a rock in the spring sun in the mountains and think about all the times when things weren’t so good, and the times also when they were good, and then come back to the time right now—which is really all the time we have. And it’s strange to think of, that there is a physical representation of all that time that hangs beautiful and thick from Anna’s head—of a thousand thousand strands braided together—of three years of growth. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grassjournal.co

Connor and Jack get meta and lose both the forest and the trees while dancing with Robert Hass' poem, "The Problem of Describing Trees." They discuss the poem's use of self-reflexivity, scientific language, tango with a Yeats allusion, and reflect on #poetrytwitter. More on Robert Hass here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-hass The Problem of Describing Trees By: Robert Hass The aspen glitters in the wind. And that delights us. The leaf flutters, turning, Because that motion in the heat of summer Protects its cells from drying out. Likewise the leaf Of the cottonwood. The gene pool threw up a wobbly stem And the tree danced. No. The tree capitalized. No. There are limits to saying, In language, what the tree did. It is good sometimes for poetry to disenchant us. Dance with me, dancer. Oh, I will. Aspens doing something in the wind. Find us at our website: www.closetalking.com/ Find us on Facebook at: facebook.com/closetalking 
Find us on Twitter at: twitter.com/closetalking
 Find us on Instagram: @closetalkingpoetry You can always send us an e-mail with thoughts on this or any of our previous podcasts, as well as suggestions for future shows, at closetalkingpoetry@gmail.com.

00:10 Intro 00:51 JayDee Gunnell Discuses potential causes of a brown lawn and aspens 07:51 Michael Caron talks about why fall is a great time to plant trees Music Credit intro and outro: The Joy Drops. Not Drunk Mix Full Band No Vocal. Used under creative commons. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode) Transition music: Savannah Peterson, unnamed composition. Used by permission. Follow us on Instagram @homegrownhorticulturepodcast https://www.instagram.com/homegrownhorticulturepodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/homegrownhorticulturepodcast/)

Bootstrappers is a program designed to bring you up to the minute ideas and concepts to understand what it takes to succeed in business and life. We bring knowledge into the property management industry from different business industries to create a richer experience for our audience. We invite the best authors, thinkers, and business people to the show and we pick their brains in their areas of expertise. We interview our guests and gain key insights that can help our audience in their own path to success. You will find here, ideas, knowledge, best practices in a relaxed and fun conversation. No pretense. Our guests get real and share successes as well as failures. If you are looking for an unvarnished look at entrepreneurship and business development this is the show for you. https://www.anequim.net In this episode, the Aspens share their experiences and stories of managing remote teams since 2009. They discuss tips like how and why it is important to call out micro-emotions you see on webcam, how to deal with conflict remotely, how to handle passive-aggressive behavior, how to measure productivity and so much more! Don’t miss this episode of Bootstrappers that will give you actionable tips you can use today! Find our about Anequim history and its leaders here: https://anequim.net/about-us/

More great books at LoyalBooks.com

As a child, I’d loved this forest; maybe because it was where I went to get away from the cottage, and the dark, brooding pressure of my Grandfather’s presence. But something had changed. The woods no longer seemed like a place of reprieve. I felt that I was being… not watched, per se, but noticed, and that it wasn’t a friendly kind of noticing. The Wrong Station contains explicit content and mature themes. Discretion is advised. Episode-specific warnings can be found at www.wrongstation.com

New York Times best-selling and award winning author, master carpenter and longtime fan of the great outdoors joins Ranger Ted for Episode 2 of the Wonder Outside Podcast. They sit down in the sunny, pre-Covid, Silverlake meadow in Los Angeles for a ranging conversation from Elk baths, Rocky Mountain inspirations and meandering Iowa rivers. Tim is a master storyteller and that's on full display in this episode. Tim discusses how the environment of the Rocky Mountains helped him find the characters and eventually the story that would become his best-selling novel, Descent. http://www.timjohnston.net/book/descent/ His latest novel is set in a place near and dear to us both, the rivers of Minnesota and Iowa. http://www.timjohnston.net/Tim and Ted have worked on cabins together, seen giant bald eagle nests and agree that when a storm kicks up its time to get yourself and your canoe off the river. They also talk about their profound experiences of riding bikes, eyes closed, at Burning Man. Wonder Outside is much more than just an interview show. It's a variety show thats specifically designed to keep discussions about the outdoors fun, useful, practical and motivating. In the 3 x3 Challenge we look at some nature escapes starting from a Main Street in Ventura, California. In the opening segment, Ted talks about how to use a naturalist journal when exploring the outdoors.The Where in the World Are You game tests your knowledge of geography and weather. DJ Shark is our musical expert as we discuss how the great outdoors influences our art and There's No Planet B gives you practical steps you can take to protect our planet and all its inhabitants.Every episode of the Wonder Outside podcast features an examination of a song or piece or art that is influenced by the great outdoors. None other than DJ Shark talks with Ted about Woody Guthrie's iconic 'This Land Is Your Land' song written in 1940. This song maintains its truth and relevance even today.DJ Shark is a prolific musician, DJ, composer, song writer and hosts his own radio show called All Time is Now. Podcast episodes from his show can be found at http://www.alltimeisnow.com/All_Time_is_Now.htmlRanger Ted has been building community his entire life. That's especially true in this podcast where you can access a wide variety of experts to help you experience the great outdoors in more meaningful ways. In episode 2, you'll hear about Super Nature Adventures www.supernatureadventures.com and their downloadable adventure kits. You can also look forward to hearing from Mike Murawski and Bryna Campbell, founders of Super Nature Adventures, as they'll join Ranger Ted in a later episode as guest Wonder Guides.Also Ranger Ted talks about the wonderful people at Save Our Monarchs. www.saveourmonarchs.org who help people everywhere plant milkweed and thus save our monarchs. Contact them now and get planting this Earth Day!http://supernatureadventures.comhttp://saveourmonarchs.orgGlobal Climate Change poses the biggest threat there is to the planet and all its inhabitants. Please visit www.350.org to become better educated and to get involved with switching from fossil fuels to renewables before it's too late. http://www.350.org

"Is not disease the rule of existence? There is not a lily pad floating on the river but has been riddled by insects. Almost every shrub and tree has its gall, oftentimes esteemed its chief ornament and hardly to be distinguished from the fruit. If misery loves company, misery has company enough. Now, at midsummer, find me a perfect leaf or fruit." - Henry David Thoreau, journal entry, September 1851

This recording was gathered in a stand of Quaking Aspen(populus tremuloides) in the Bigelow Meadow Botanical Area at the edge of Bigelow Meadow in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Siskiyou County, California. It was a sunny day with a gusty breeze at the cusp of summer and fall, with the leaves on the trees and brush just beginning to turn to their fall colors. I have a Facebook page for the podcast, search Sound By Nature to find it and see pictures from this recording outing, as well as some of the other areas I've recorded. While you're there, like and follow it to stay updated and see pictures from future recording outings. I'll be posting episodes on the page as well, please feel free to comment and tell me what you like or dislike about the podcast. If you appreciate that this podcast is ad free and would like it to stay that way, please consider supporting it monetarily if you have the means. You can do so by going to my podcast page at anchor.fm/soundbynature and clicking support this podcast, or by clicking the support link at the end of this podcast description. I would very much like to continue to bring you unadulterated natural sounds recorded on location, and I would love to improve the sound quality to bring you quieter, more nuanced soundscapes. Your support will help me do that. If you don't have the means for monetary support, you can also support the podcast by rating and reviewing it on Itunes, or just by telling a friend who would appreciate it. Thanks for listening! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/soundbynature/support

There is a tailwind coming your way... Tailwind: a wind that blows in the direction you are going and increases the your speed and reduces the time required to reach a destination

In this week's episode of the Jackson Hole Connection, Stephan visits with Dick Scarlett. Dick is a father, husband, grandfather, veteran, entrepreneur, author, banker and a community leader. Dick grew up on a ranch in Wyoming, graduated from University of Wyoming and moved to Jackson in 1981. Stephan and Dick talk about why communication is so important and why a bank needs to be a community partner and not just a lending institution. Dick founded the United Bancorporation and helped grow the Jackson State Bank into the largest bank in Wyoming until it was sold in 2008 to Wells Fargo. Dick and Jackson State Bank helped develop Jackson into what it is today, including the creation of the Aspens and supported the founding of The National Museum of Wildlife Art. Dick & Maggie Scarlett along with Charlie Craighead published a book titled ‘Sagebrush to Silver Dollar', the history of Jackson State Bank. You can find a copy at https://store.jacksonholehistory.org/collections/jackson-hole/products/sagebrush-to-silver-dollar (Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum) or at http://www.valleybookstore.com/ (Valley Bookstore). Proceeds of the book sales go to the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum. Do you enjoy The Jackson Hole Connection? Please subscribe, rate and review our podcast wherever you listen. Tune in every Thursday for a new episode of The Jackson Hole Connection. This episode sponsors includehttps://www.theliquorstorejacksonhole.com/ ( The Liquor Store) andhttps://www.jhmarketplace.com/ ( Jackson Hole Marketplace). Want to be a guest on The Jackson Hole Connection? Email us at connect@thejacksonholeconnection.com Music in this episode is provided by Luke Taylor. The Jackson Hole Connection is edited byhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmoeri ( Michael Moeri). Website and social media support byhttp://hiretana.com/ ( Tana Hoffman).

One of the largest single organisms anywhere is the Pando clone, a gigantic grove of linked aspen trees that all grew from the same tiny seed and remain connected by a shared root system. There are more than 40,000 trees, and when the wind blows through them, it makes an unforgettably loud whisper. Photographs by Karine Laval. Field recordings by Jeff Rice.

One of the largest single organisms anywhere is the Pando clone, a gigantic grove of linked aspen trees that all grew from the same tiny seed and remain connected by a shared root system. There are more than 40,000 trees, and when the wind blows through them, it makes an unforgettably loud whisper. Photographs by Karine Laval. Field recordings by Jeff Rice.

Mutations happen, just ask the X-Men. Zane Moore, a PhD student at UC Davis, wants to know why. More specifically he wants to know what possible long term ramifications can be – an effect known as “mutational meltdown”. Zane’s particular area of study are Albino Redwoods, mutant trees that lack chlorophyll. He has been studying these since he was 16 years old after hearing a radio interview about them. We discuss the possible evolutionary benefits of having no chlorophyll such as acting as a heavy metal sink, clonal populations and associated risk/rewards, how redwoods grow, and the rarity (maybe…) of these trees. Zane Moore – the Professor X of Redwoods. To ask questions for future shows, submit them at Flower Power Garden Hour Facebook page, The Plant Lady Facebook page, or Instagram. You can also email Marlene questions, future show topic requests and feedback at msimon@marlenesimon.net

On this episode, I interview Katie Dee, of Katie Dee & The Quaking Aspens, a Gothic-Americana one-piece based out of Pittsburgh, PA. Put your history cap on - especially if you’re a fan of classical, folk, punk, and country. Please go support Katie by checking out her music here: Noisetrade: noisetrade.com/katiedee 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_quaking_aspens/ _____________
 Topics of discussion for Episode 02: #1880s #59timesthepain #60smusic #accordion #adlib #afi #alkalinetrio #alleghenycollege #altcountry #altcountry #alternativecountry #altpress #anthropology #aolinstantmessenger #appalachia #appalachian #badreligion #bards #bass #bass #belgium #blackforge #blackforgecoffeehouse #blueclutch #boysofageneration #bread #britishinvasion #britishmusic #britishpsychedelic #burlives #canterburyscene #cassettetapes #castleshannon #characterstudy #collegedj #collegeradio #d&d #daisyrock #darkfolk #deutschtown #driving #dungeonsanddragons #emo #emomusic #europeanhistory #evanescence #eyeballrecords #femaleempowerment #femaleguitarist #femalebassist #feminism #festivals #folk #folktales #francophone #franzschubert #freakbeat #french #garagepunk #garagerock #gerardway #german #germany #girlsrock #gordonlightfoot #goth #gothpunk #gothic #gothicamericana #graveyardshift #gristhousebrewery #haiku #hardcore #history #improv #industrial #irishfolk #jamestaylor #johnlennon #johnnycash #katiedee #katiedeeandthequakingaspens #kidsmusic #kraftwerk #ladyfest #leventdunord #librarian #libraryscience #lieder #littlejoegold #livemusic #livejournal #manatees #marilynmanson #meadville #meadvillepa #melodichardcore #millvale #mrsmalls #murderballad #murderballads #murderbydeath #musicfestivals #musichistory #musiceducation #mychemicalromance #mythology #neilyoung #nena #noisetrade #orchestra #pastelgoth #paulmccartney #piano #pinkfloyd #piperatthegatesofdawn #pittsburgh #poetry #poppunk #progrock #prog #protestthehero #protoprog #psychedelia #punk #quebecois #radiostation #rammstein #rhinorecords #rodywalker #romanticism #rubbersoul #russia #saharahotnights #scandinavian #scottish #scottishfolk #sea shanty #sexpistols #shanty #shoegaze #sigurros #sixties #slovenia #slowcore #songwriter #songwriting #soviet #spacerock #stagefright #stagepersona #storyteller #storytelling #storytime #suzukiviolin #sweden #sweetrevenge #sydbarrett #theartofdrowning #theclash #theguesswho #thehives #thebeatles #thepraguespring #thursday #twee #violin #violinist #webutterthebreadwithbutter #womeninmusic #womenownedbusiness #wyep

In this show, Josh returns to talk about Aspens & Alchemy--the road from Red to Black to White.  At first glance, you might be thinking: What does this have to do with Astrology? Well, my dear friends, everything.  Astrology penetrates all layers of existence.  So it wasn't hard for me to make correlations and also, hopefully, make it educational for you.  We hope you enjoy this one. www.Holestoheeavens.com www.Patreon.com/exploringastrology www.Abotanica.net  

Okay, that thing about live performances being awesome even if they aren't that good? We recorded this before we knew we'd have a chance to perform at Folklife. Honest. Totally not trying to just toot our own horns right after the Folklife show. As we promised back on Episode #46, we would never lie to you. Plus: discovering the aesthetic moments that stay with us and a message from the Foundation for a Better You and Me and Inspiring World Uplifting Project. Get in touch! www.spiritoftheendeavor.net and spiritoftheendeavor@gmail.com

Join me on my knitting and hand spinning adventures! Subscribe to the YouTube Channel if you'd like to be the first to know when future episodes are uploaded!My Designs My WebsiteRavelry GroupI take a close look at Manos del Uruguay Alegria, a delightfully soft fingering weight yarn #manosyarns #manosdeluruguay Not only is the yarn luscious to knit with, it is Fair Trade Certified, produced in cooperatives throughout Uruguay, and helps the women who produce it support their families.Thank you to Fairmount Fibers, North American distributor of Manos, for sending the skein of Alegria (in the dreamy new Stratus colourway) for me to review!Appia by Hillary Smith Callis - Rose City Rollers Socks (for my leftover Alegria!) - Iðunn Cardigan by Ragga Eiríksdóttir using Lettlopi - Yellow Tail Shawl by Taiga Hilliard - Caterpillar Green Yarns - Handspun Farmer's BFL Fish Lips Kiss Heel socksSchacht Spindle Company (Flatiron, Matchless, Sidekick mentionedSpunky Eclectic February 2016 Club Fiber (Aspens colorway)Nest Fiber ClubNorthbound Knitting Fiber ClubAny music used in the video is fully credited at the end of the video.

    I'm lucky to be here right now. I probably shouldn't be. I should probably be dead.   Dead from so many potential things. Yet I stand on a new day.   I suspect the same goes for you, dear reader. We've all had close calls. We've all run the gamut in one form or another.   Sure we've come a long way since swinging around in the treetops. Our life expectancy has gone from about 18 years in 2000 BC to around 78.74 now. But even in our highly evolved state our fragility makes us vulnerable to the smallest and biggest things.   Yes, consuming today's modern diet has pickled us and held off the diseases a bit but even an act as innocent as eating can take us down. Just last weekend I almost bit off more than I could chew and was wondering who at the party I should start gesticulating to, desperately needing the Heimlich maneuver pronto. But I swallowed and got away with it.   Aspen should certainly have gotten me by now but I have dodged all those bullets … the avalanches, the slips on the ice, the near misses on the highway, the overindulgences, the flights out of Sardy Field, etc.   In Buddhism they constantly remind us that we are all going to die. No one knows how or when but it's something we all share. This reminder is designed to scare us into appreciating this very moment that we have right now because every thing else is uncertain at best and potentially perilous at worst. Breathe.   So, if I had to come up with a New Year's resolution it would be to notice and appreciate that my fragile water sac continues to function at a fairly high level, despite my best efforts to extinguish it. Forget the nagging psoas major muscle. I'm alive. That very muscle nearly dragged me into the grave almost a year ago but now it's there to remind me to stretch, get to work, breathe and appreciate.   Even in the bosom of Aspen, danger lurks.   Back in the day I went out of bounds with a gang of gung-ho Japanese sushi chefs. These guys partied hard every night and skied even harder almost every day. Only one of our group of about seven was a really solid expert skier. The rest of them made up for their lack of skill with a determination to float powder turns that you don't find in most foreign relations.   That day I led the pack in hotdogging down the out of bounds terrain below Steeplechase on Aspen Highlands. I greedily sprang from the trees onto a lovely unblemished stretch of steep and deep, keeping my head quiet and my shoulders straight down the fall line, making constant sweeping turns. The 207 cm giant slalom skis dug in and then floated out in a familiar and wonderful rhythm.   Then I heard and felt a low rumbling. Avalanche! I dove into a tight patch of Aspens and blasted chest first into an stiff pillar of wood and bark, safe from the slide but hurt in the unforgiving embrace of a tree. My wind was gone. My ribs were cracked. But my friends were safely above the path of the chute. Snow boulders the size of Volkswagen Beetles and as hard as concrete slabs littered the slope. I could have been killed!   My chefs did not really grasp the gravity of the situation and continued cutting up any open slope they could find, down to the road. I think they call it blissful unawareness. I was limping out and counting my blessings.   Last year we only had five deaths from avalanches here in Colorado. Recent history shows that we had 12 deaths in 1993 and 11 in 2013, so five is kind of a low number, unless you are one of the five. It's rare to have a season in Colorado with no avalanche deaths. We are all pretty safe in bounds but these are days of extreme sport. Staying in bounds is like a bunny hill experience to some of today's extreme skiers and riders.   Most of us have a pretty cavalier attitude about getting in a motor vehicle, either as a passenger or pilot. Some of us even do it after a few drinks or a few hits of wonderful, legal ganja. Sometimes we add to it a bit of texting or eating a big, dripping burger.   But it's a jungle out there. Statistically we are more likely to be killed on these rural roads than the pavement the city slickers drive. Statewide, in 2016 there were 3,705 highway traffic fatalities. Even when we do everything right … stow the phone … buckle the seat belt … stay sober and drive within the legal limits … there are no guarantees that the other guy or gal is doing the same. You have to watch out for the other guy.   Don't think you are any safer under the covers. People die from house fires, electrocution, TVs falling off the wall and slips in the shower. Living is dangerous.   Just the fact that the stars aligned to put us in this sweet spot in the first place is cause for celebration and appreciation. We are the fortunate ones. But that doesn't make us immune.   Steve Skinner wishes you all the best in 2017. Reach him at nigel@sopris.net.   Published 1.3.17 in the Aspen Daily News.   Steve Skinner's music is at steveskinner.bandcamp.com      

Join me on my knitting and hand spinning adventures! Subscribe if you'd like to know when future episodes are uploaded.I chat a bit about my new Schacht Flatiron spinning wheel near the beginning, but get into knitting a few minutes later (skip ahead if you're not into the spinning wheel talk). After going through my finished objects (FOs) and works in progress (WIPs), I get back into the details of my spinning from the last two weeks, including a brief and not particularly helpful discussion about Schacht wooden bobbins vs travel bobbins vs Akerworks bobbins. I swear, I'm going to buy an Akerworks bobbin just so I can record a video comparing all 3 (there's nothing out there)! My Designs My Website Ravelry GroupLambing Mitts from Tolt Yarn & WoolMountain Meadow Wool Legacy Yarn Club (Mountain Meadow Tweeds Pumice overdyed with Russet)Iðunn Cardigan by Ragga Eiríksdóttir using Lettlopi Yellow Tail Shawl by Taiga Hilliard Caterpillar Green YarnsWithin by Jane Richmond and Shannon Cook Tread by Shannon CookSchacht Spindle Company (Flatiron, Matchless, Sidekick mentioned)Spunky Eclectic February 2016 Club Fiber (Aspens colorway)Any music used in the video is fully credited at the end of the video.

Best places to stay for fall color: Ouray population 1,000, elevation 7,792 feet, distance from Denver 300 miles/5 ½ hours via US-285 S AND US-50 W. Or 332 miles via I-70 W and Hwy’s 50/550.  Centrally located for exploring in all directions.  In Ouray, there are many places to stay in many price ranges. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g33581-Ouray_Colorado-Hotels.html Centrally located for exploring in all directions.  A cheaper alternative is camping in one of the many national forests in the area including the Uncompahgre and Rio Grande National Forests. This is dry camping with potable water and vault toilets only, but the price is right.  Usually around $10 per night or less with a senior pass. http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/rockymtn/unc.htm   https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/riogrande/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=28882&actid=29   Best places for landscapes: o   Last Dollar Road: A dirt road variously classified as a 1 or 1-2 jeep road meaning beginner or beginner to intermediate.  Being a dirt road, a lot depends on weather.  Rain can convert a dirt road to a soggy mess. A high clearance vehicle is best. Jeep rentals are available in Ouray. From Ouray take Hwy 550 to Hwy 62 in Ridgeway turn left and stay on Hwy 62 until you see a sign for Last Dollar Road or T60 on your left.  Allow 2-3 hours for the drive to Telluride, more if you’re taking lots of photos. “Last Dollar Road passes spectacular aspen groves, big mountains, pioneer structures, split rail fences, and ranches” according to Bryan Maltais. http://www.colorado.com/articles/colorado-hidden-gem-last-dollar-road o   Owl Creek Pass Road or County Road 8 is an 18.5 mile out and back drive most easily picked up north of Ridgeway on your right opposite Ridgeway State Park. “A beautiful scenic road to travel in the fall, with Courthouse Mt. and Chimney Peak in the background.There is a overlook on the Ridgeway side, and if you are there at sundown and if it's clear, you can get some great shots of Chimney Peak and Courthouse Mt. with a pink hue. Also there is an opening beside the road, with Chimney Peak in the background that a scene from the movie True Grit, with John Wayne was filmed” according to Tom Moldenhauer on the All Trails website http://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/colorado/owl-creek-pass-road o   Kebler Pass Road: County Road 12 reached in Crested Butte travels westward for 28 miles before reaching Hwy 133 where a left turn takes you to Hwy 92 and eventually to Hwy 50 the main east-west road.  Crested Butte Bryan Maltais reports “Kebler Pass Road is 28 miles of unending scenery through the West Elk Mountains. Much of the road travels through lush Aspen forest, and frequently opens up to expose vast scenes of mountains as far as the eye can see. The views are a nice mix of classic Colorado ridges (The Dyke and the Ruby Range) and also singular, eroded peaks like the Beckwith Peaks and Marcelina Mountain.” The Gunnison-Crested Butte website https://gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/press/fact-sheets/fall-drives-fact-sheet/  describes it as follows: “This is just one segment of the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway, but is a popular fall drive on its own. The 30-mile Kebler Pass road follows Coal Creek west from Crested Butte and climbs gradually past the old Keystone Mine. The graveled road follows the old Rio Grande Railroad grade toward Kebler Pass and the once booming mining camps of Irwin and Ruby, the lumber camp of Telco, and the coal mining town of Floresta. At the top of the pass, a road forks left toward Ohio Pass and Gunnison and right toward Kebler Pass. Kebler Pass heads into the Anthracite Creek drainage and through incredible Aspen groves, meeting Highway 133 at the Paonia Dam. This is a popular route linking Crested Butte to roadways that travel to Aspen, passing through the charming towns of Redstone and Carbondale along the way” o   Ohio Pass Road: Is a left turn off County Road 12 out of Crested Butte described above onto County Road 730.  This road takes you 23.5 miles to Gunnison, CO. The where to go Colorado website https://wheretogocolorado.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/colorado-fall-color-ohio-pass/  describes it as: “The most colorful autumn route between Gunnison and Crested Butte is the Ohio Pass Road. Not the most direct, fastest or smoothest but without a doubt the most vibrant. North of Gunnison the road follows the Ohio Creek Valley – hay fields, cattle ranches and more recently built ranchette homes. Aged willows grow close to the creek. Stacks of large hay rolls promise feed for livestock during the coming winter. At approximately fifteen miles deserted, decaying structures are all that remains of Baldwin, once a company town for one of the region’s largest coal mines. Peaks of the West Elk Wilderness and The Castles – eroded volcanic remains – rise to the west. The further along the road we travel the thicker the aspen – area has been blessed an abundance of the quaking trees. At 10,076 –ft, Ohio Pass is not above timberline; near the top, dense growths of ferns carpet the forest floor. This is also a great drive during wildflower season” o   Dallas Divide: See Last Dollar Road above. o   San Juan Skyway, not one road, but many roads forming a 234-mile loop constituting a Colorado Scenic Byway.  Map at http://www.coloradodirectory.com/maps/skyway.html  How to travel: If you don’t have a high clearance or 4X4 vehicle consider renting one. Buy local jeep maps and bring a compass. http://www.jeeptrailinfo.com/trails_maps.html#anchor5 Dress in layers.  Carry a warm jacket or better yet a parka, a warm hat and gloves. Carry emergency supplies of food in water in addition to your normal lunch, drinks and snacks. Carry an extra gas can or two. Let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back. First aid kit in the vehicle.   Guidebooks for Colorado photography: Best guidebook is not a photographer’s guide but rather “Colorado Scenic Guide: Southern Region” by Lee Gregory.  There’s also a northern region guide.  Both are available at my A-store at no extra charge. http://astore.amazon.com/flanaganfotos-20/detail/1555661459 On line references:         http://loadedlandscapes.com/co http://www.wildernessshots.com/best-colorado-landscape-photography-locations/ https://www.codot.gov/travel/scenic-byways/north-central/mount-evans https://shop.photographamerica.com/

The way a grove or community of aspens starts is pretty complex {it’s like yoga for my brain} so I’m simplifying it like this: An entire community of Aspens originates from one organism. That organism grows one stalk up from where it’s planted, while the roots grow out & from those roots more Aspen trees grow. Aspens start with this one organism as the center of it all... every subsequent aspen is connected not just to that originating tree but to the entire community of trees. You guys. Is there a better example of Christian community? Jesus is the originator and the center of it all...and from His roots a community is born.

Spiritual analogies and lessons galore in this episode – listen for full details

Synopsis Dr. Jack Gallagher, one of Marietta, Montana's most eligible bachelors, hasn't been serious about a woman since his wife died five years ago. He's been content to date occasionally, practice medicine and raise his teenage daughter. Then happily divorced former fashion model, Maya Parrish, moves back to Marietta, with her own teenaged daughter in tow forcing Jack to rethink his casual dates only rule. Maya, Jack's high school girlfriend and almost fiancée, may have broken his heart the night of their high school graduation, but the moment Jack and Maya meet again, all the sizzle and sparks, and then some, come rushing back. Maya is ready to give love a second try. Jack isn't sure he can take that chance again. He knows how quickly happiness can be ripped away, leaving heartbreak in its place.   Can a mad, passionate affair last or will it burn itself out as quickly as it began? Excerpt Marietta had grown, of course, but it was still a small town, with that lovely small town flavor. Of course, there was also the “everyone knows everything about you and your business” angle of living in a small town, but that seemed a small price to pay for such a great place to raise her child. Marietta was a beautiful place, situated to the north of Paradise Valley, in between the Absaroka Mountains and the Gallatin Range. Copper Mountain rose to the west of town, lending dignity and majesty to the view with its purple and white peaks, and the green of the Evergreens and spots of yellow where the Aspens had only just started to turn. There was only one possible fly in the ointment. One tiny little thing she was worried about. Living in the same town as Jack Gallagher again. Dr. Jack Gallagher now. Along with the mountains and her family, she’d left Jack behind when she left Marietta to pursue her modeling career, in Dallas, Texas. Jack Gallagher. Her almost fiancé, whom she’d almost jilted at the altar, the night of their high school graduation. # Maya had plenty of time before she needed to worry about seeing Jack again. Right now, she was driving to the high school with her daughter in tow. Some bright soul had decided the Spirit Club should have a party shortly after school started, so that all the students and parents could get to know each other. The same bright soul had also decided to make it a potluck supper. Maya had volunteered to make her famous Death by Chocolate dessert. It was always a crowd pleaser. Not to mention, it was one of few desserts Maya knew how to make. She asked Carmen to help her carry everything in, since she not only had the glass compote full of the dessert, but also various bags of paper plates, napkins, and plastic cutlery. So much for that promise. Maya hadn’t even turned off the car before Carmen dashed off to see some friends. “Carmen, wait,” Maya called, watching her daughter’s retreating back. Typical, she thought. Determined to make only one trip, Maya balanced the heavy dish in one hand and the bags in the other and headed for the gym doors. Holding the compote carefully, she reached with her other hand for the double wide doors just as they swung open. She jumped back to avoid being smacked by them, losing her precarious grip on everything, including the dessert. “Da—darn it!” she yelled, just in time to see her beautiful masterpiece slide right out of her hands and land upside down on the door ma

God created us for community. Christ centred community allows us to reflect the relational nature of God, as well as His mercy and grace. It is a community that seeks to live in peace with one another and reconcile broken relationships.The standard by which we are to measure our love for one another is to the extent that Jesus loved us. We are to love as we have been loved. Jesus modelled love through serving, through leveraging His abilities for our needs, by sharing in our pain and sorrow, by living among us, and by bridging the gap to get to us (and much more). Pastor Blair unpacks each of these models of love, and how this practically applies to us – both inside and outside the church.

Over the past 10 years, the death of forest trees due to drought and increased temperatures has been documented on all continents except Antarctica. This can in turn drive global warming by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere by trees and by releasing carbon locked up in their wood. New research led by Carnegie researcher and Stanford University PhD student William Anderegg offers evidence for the physiological mechanism governing tree death in a drought.