Six Words: factor, calendar, responsibility, fall, artist, perfume
Fall colors were the biggest factor in the timing of our road trip to Lost Maples State Park. The calendar only hints at the right time for such a trip. The artists that paint the leaves shades of yellow and orange and red each year do it on their own schedule. They feel no responsibility for accommodating visitors’ preferences for weekends or any particular date. The best thing to do is to check the park’s website. The rangers monitor the colors and let the public know the status of the fall colors.
The park limits the number of vehicles each day, so you do need to make a reservation in advance to be sure there will be room for you. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to go on a day when colors are peaking, the sun is bright, and the crisp, cool air smells like perfume. The day that we went had all of those conditions – but the day before, it had rained. Some leaves had fallen. There were signs posted about being careful because trails might be slippery. Lying on my back looking at the sky because my feet had slipped out from under me was testimony that the signs were, indeed, correct.