Little things to remember...

When I look back and try to remember what it was like when the days were warmer and longer... I mostly remember the little things... Bright flowers and birds, mostly. The weather was  milder too, but flowers take up more space in my memories...

 

Bright yellow...

The days are colder now, and we’re waiting for the first real snow. The leaves are gone, the branches are bare, and everything looks a little faded and dull. But, believe it or not, just a couple of months ago the world looked completely different - bright, golden, glowing yellow. I still remember that vibrant day when we drove up into the mountains to see the fall foliage at its peak. We started on Squaw Pass Road and headed toward Echo Lake - Beautiful Sunday high in the mountains.

 

Everybody is flying, swimming or perching ;)

Barr Lake is one of my favorite places to spend a few hours walking around the water and enjoying the fresh air and abundant wildlife. The lake is famous for being a winter home for bald eagles (don’t believe me? check it out - Bald Eagles on Barr Lake), but in November you can find all kinds of birds here - waterfowl, raptors, and everything in between. So, walking along the trail, we hoped to see them all…

 

Code orange...

It was an absolutely gorgeous Saturday morning, and I was heading toward Belmar Lake. Unfortunately, I was late for the sunrise (which was simply stunning), and by the time I arrived, the sky wasn’t even close to what I had seen on my way there. But, surprisingly, as I walked around the lake, I discovered that some orange colors still lingered in the sky and made it glow…

 

Chalk Lake and Salida - Labor Day weekend. Part 4

We left the Leadville National Fish Hatchery (click here to refresh your memory - Unexpected adventure - Labor Day weekend. Part 3) and headed toward a ghost town. We’ve been to St. Elmo before and simply wanted to see this abandoned settlement again. Well… an unpleasant surprise awaited us. The dirt road to the town has become nearly impassable. It was rough the last time we drove it, but now it’s basically an off-road trail. So, after talking to people in a well-dusted car who were coming back from there, we made a U-turn and continued toward Salida instead.
But before getting there, we made a short stop at Chalk Lake, a small body of water surrounded by rugged cliffs.

 

Beautiful Sunday high in the mountains

I can’t believe it’s already November. It feels like just last week we were driving up into the mountains to chase the fall colors, and yet, somehow, a whole month has slipped by. Still, that Sunday stays vivid in my memory - chilly, crisp, sunlit, and painted in gold.

 

Rain and gold leaves

We really enjoyed the foggy landscapes along the road (click here to see where it all started - On the Way...). The rain had returned, low clouds, golden leaves... everything looked simply beautiful!

 

Some small gems...

People usually come to the Botanic Garden to admire the flowers, and there are plenty of them all summer long. But in September, you'll see fewer bright and colorful blooms. But... they're still there, and fall flowers are different from spring and summer ones...