9/29/2012
Took a trip to the Colorado mountains to view the color change of the leaves.
I was afraid it was past prime viewing but it turned out to be really a great time.
I took a few shots as I was driving along so some window reflections show up.
The clouds were heavy and I ran into a little rain
The hillsides were so colorful even where there were no trees, just scrub brush. Some gold, rust and yellow. A real rainbow of clolors.
A friend and I from Grand Junction went around the Grand Mesa and over McClure Pass to Paonia, Hotchkiss and Carbondale. Everywhere you looked there was a "Wow, look at that"
Around every corner was another breathtaking sight.
Some of the mountains were snow capped already.
Just had to take a snap or two of this colorful home and their flower garden, as did my friend. She uses a big SLR with mutiple lens, I have only a small point and shoot camera but at least it catches some memories for me.
Isn't this blue house and yellow flowers a great view. This was in the little town of paonia. We ate lunch in the city park. We missed by one day their annual mountain harvest festival, but we avoided the crowds as well.
I even caugt one of the hundreds of bees in action gathering the pollen.
It was a wonderful reminder of how God's Creation declares his glory. We felt drunk with the overwhelming beauty which created a kind of ecstasy.
I came home tired but filled with joy at having spent some time with and old friend. 
I will remember this year as being one of the best leaf peeping trip of my many years here.
Tuesday Sept 18, 2012
Today, having burned myself out in working on my picture project, I just had to get outdoors. I had wanted to make a bit of a tour of some of the nurseries in Northern Colorado about 1 1/2 hours from my home.
It was a picture perfect Colorado day. Sunshine, blue skies and temps at about 80 degrees. A little high haze but no worry about rain, or should I say no hope of rain.
I zipped up the highway, only to realize I had left my addresses and GPS at home. So I just kinda wandered around.
First I found, by serendipity, the Gardens on Spring Creek, which is the Botanic Gardens of Fort Collins. This is a lovely little spot filled with some wonderful sculpure as well as some interesting flowers and plants.
At their entrance is a colorful piano, exuberantly painted, with the greenery acting as a backdrop. Don't cha just love it?
You entered their children's area passing a couple of huge watering cans.
Children were playing in a couple of the water features, I did not want to freak them (or their minders) out by taking their pictures. Wish I had.
lovely little curving walks a dalia garden and rock gardens and water features
Also some critters.
Lots of vegetable plantings, These beans and Aubergines created a wonderful and colorful picture.
More garden art
I did not take time to tour their wonderful xeroscape area, nor the wonderful meadow and the other designated gardens. I should have but having started my trip at about noon, I was short on time.
And with directions from the staff, I was off to the CSU (Colorado State University) Trial gardens, where they test for hardiness and new varieties of plants for the Colorado microsystems.
Our state's name "Colorado" come from an indian word many colorful and today it has lived up to it's name. There is a drought going on, but in this beguiling little college town you would not know it. Part of the CSU mission is to find drought and water wise plants, I do believe they are succeeding.
The trial garderns were filled with bouquets of brightly colored plants of all kinds, a visual feast, to say the least.
I wandered through the geraniums, petunias and other brightly blooming wonders.
I could not linger too long at any one spot their was just so much to see.
These bronze and purple Coleus Caught my eye as did the neighboring bright green.
Salvia's do well here.
I browsed here for a couple of hours and then decided I was getting very tired, but what a good tired. My camera and my minds eye was replete with all those vibrant images.
With an eye toward all those other paths to walk, I decided going on to a nursery or two would have to wait for another day.
Just time to take a few more snaps
What a lovely little town Fort Collins is. Hanging baskets galore, every business seems to try to out do it's neighbor.
On every corner wer planters spilling natures largess. I got only shots of cars when I attempted to take pictures at the intersections.
I will, however, carry them in my memories, including this one in front of a beautiful old church.
Now I am safely back home reviewing my pictures and want to save some of the memories here so I can come back and visit on cold winter days. My mind does not always retain the detailed memories, so I use photos as a method to remind me.
I went to a flute training class in Colorado Springs. I am so mad I did not take pictures of the wonderful teacher, Odell Borg.
It was held in the Garden of the God's Trading Post. This is a very old building which has been upgraded several times over the years. It has a wonderful collection of Native American art and is listed as the best place to buy curios and souvenirs.
Had a buffolo burger and looked around the area on the patio. Nice plantings and a few curious items.
I noticed a critter on the wall.
The art gallery has some beutiful rugs and blankets... big dollar amounts
My brother would love this.
Several of the people had some great flute bags, but this one was exceptional.
The scenery was great too. No sign of the burn areas. It is too bad the tourists have not come back
Visit Colorado Springs... It is wonderful.
Yesterday was a beautiful day for a mountain drive. It was to be 98 in Denver.
I wanted to see if my ear problem would be a problem when I went to altitude.
I drove over the divide to Silverthorn and back through Silver Plume. That charming Victorian town has really started to deteriorate. How sad. I did not stop as everything looked closed up.
I then drove over the road to Echo Lake. Did not go up to Mount Evans as I had began to get tired.
I tried to spot some mountain flowers which were in spots I could photograph but they were always just at the bends or drop offs so did not get any pictures.
I got one or two vista pictures. Should have taken more but......
"
"Next time", as they say....
Today is a pleasant 80 degree day after 24 at 90+. I am luxurating in it, however we are right back to the 90s for next week. Oh well, winter will be here soon enough and I will be lamenting that too.
Finally got that much needed rain, although it was only a little bit.
It is supposed to keep raining for next several days so am hoping for the best.
I know my plants would love it!!!!!!
