• Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  landscape,  natural areas,  sunsets

    It Was a Good End to a Beautiful Weekend

    Sunset at Arapaho Bend Nature Area
    Sunset at Arapaho Bend Nature Area

    Yesterday was too gorgeous a day not to be outside. So, I  took an early afternoon walk through the Red Fox Meadows near my condo. Found a little knoll with sunshine to sit and journal, which I really needed. Love the music made by the leaves and wind. Drowns out the automobiles in the distance and excess chatter of my mind.

    After returning to my condo the time in the meadow was not enough of a nature fix for me. I listened to nature’s call and drove to the Arapahoe Bend Nature Area. I made the mile and a half walk around the ponds. Parking lot was full and saw several photographers shooting family portraits against the fall colors.  It was a good end to a beautiful weekend. 

  • fall season,  landscape,  natural areas,  trees

    More Bluer Skies

    Starburst on a beautiful fall afternoon.
    Starburst on a beautiful fall afternoon.

    This pat weekend was lovely. Afternoon temperatures reaching the mid 60’s and nighttime temperatures down to freezing. The cold nights and humidity brought frost to everything in the morning. Saturday morning included some fog where I could not see across the pond.

  • clouds,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  sunsets

    After the Storms

    Sunset at Cottonwood Hallow
    Sunset at Cottonwood Hallow

    On Wednesday afternoon we a series of rain storms build up along the Front Range then descend out on to the plains. Along with the rain came thunder, lightening and even pea size hail. After the storms moved out I decided to drive east for any cloud formations or rainbows. I found both. I did not need to go far as I found the rainbow along Prospect Ponds then later an enjoyable sunset at Cottonwood Hallow.

    Rainbow at Prospect Ponds
    Rainbow at Prospect Ponds

  • leaves,  Plants

    Brown Edges

    Fading Away
    Brown Edges 

    The brown color of this leaf’s edges was the key to drawing my attention to it. My first thought was a dead leaf that had fallen and was mixed in with the greener leaves. But as I looked closer I realized it was only the edges of the leaf that were discolored.  

    My inquisitive mind wanted to know why this was happening, so a Google search was made and the following was discovered. Most commonly brown leaf tips or brown edges on leaves are caused by stress. This can be due to the plant not getting enough water, too little natural water falling, the roots are constricted and unable to reach out for water or the soil does or can not hold onto the water. Even though the plant is in stress I find beauty in it. I also find it interesting only one leaf is affected.