Welcome to Autumn, Colorado-style! The early snow storm in September, accompanied by frost, did not do widespread damage to all the crops as was feared. And, the drop in temperatures a week or so ago gave us enough warning to bring in our flower pots. Most forests are showing their usual reds, yellows and oranges. The fall color hit the northern part of Colorado over the past two weeks, and is holding on for maybe another week. Now the lower half of the state is being hit. The highways and roads are packed with cars, but you can enjoy a glimpse here, from your easy chair!
There are multiple pumpkin patches, mazes, hayrides and more going on around the Front Range, with COVID-19 health restrictions being observed. Or, just stop and pick one up at Ralph’s Market on Broadway in Lyons. There is a display of pumpkins along the sandstone wall of the old bank building on the corner of Main and Fourth Streets. River Kye Maureaux, two years old, is just tall enough to give one a poke.
Colorado is renown for its yellow Aspen leaves brilliantly coloring the forests in the fall. Ian Taylor took a few photos on his drive along Colorado’s Peak to Peak scenic highway. He found this stream with its golden treasure throve of Aspen leaves on an unnamed path off the highway. It was near the Rainbow Lakes area.
The leaves of the Virginia Creeper are wonderfully decorative all year-round, but it reveals its crimson surprise in the fall, setting off the veins and rugged edges even more. Linda LeFou took this photograph near her apartment at the Walt Self Housing in Lyons. Don’t need to watch out for this one: the five-leaved creeper is not Poison Ivy, but is in the grape family.
Sometimes we can see the best of Nature in our backyards. This view of the St. Vrain River, as it leisurely ripples down and out of Lyons, captures the golden quiet moments of the day.
With Lyons being almost surrounded by mountains, one could just lazily sit back in their yard chair and admire the emerging fall colors as they climb up the ridges and dip into the valleys. Kate Kerr took this photograph from her home, with a clear view of Lyons’ famous Steamboat Mountain in the background.
Driving along the curves and turns, and the valleys and mountains in Rocky Mt. National Park will keep you on your toes. It’s images like this one that make you almost swerve off the road, and shouts from the back seat ask you to find a spot to STOP NOW!
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN BY LOCAL LYONS PHOTOGRAPHERS.
