2015 Lost Maples State Natural Area Foliage Color Change Report
Nov. 24, 2015: This is the last report for this season and we wish the news was better but this has not been a good year for maple leaf color. Old Faithful is showing some color in the park but the maples as a whole just did not do well this year. The park is beautiful and the drive out here is fantastic. The Texas Red Oaks are starting to turn around the state, giving the hill country that holiday red and green along the hills and making the drives here spectacular. This is truly one of the most beautiful parts of the state any time of the year. The staff at Lost Maples State Natural Area wants to thank you for your support and visitation. We are having a great year and wish you a Happy and Safe Holiday Season. Come out and see us sometime!
TPWD photos taken on Nov. 23, 2015 by Richard Treece
Nov. 17, 2015: The weather has not helped the foliage color change this year. The color in the park is minimal now, with only a few trees starting to show pinks, yellows and orange, and just a handful starting to change color. At the turn to the Overflow Parking Area, the tree we call Old Faithful is starting to show red colors but the majority of trees on the trails have lost most of their leaves, and with a weather front coming, more leaves will likely be lost. Along the road to the park there are still some trees with green leaves that might give us some color but with or without the fall maple color, this park is still one of the most unique and beautiful in the state. Come visit and enjoy the beauty of Lost Maples State Natural Area.
TPWD photos taken on Nov. 16, 2015 by Richard Treece
Nov. 10, 2015: We are well into November and have had too much rain and no cold nights to get the leaves changing color. The colors that we do see are light pink, yellow, faded orange and brown, but the leaves remaining on the trees are mostly yellow with brown and they are falling off. It is our opinion that the red colors normally seen this time of year will be on small, young trees only. There are two small trees in the Day Use Area showing some red color. This may not be one of the better years for leaf color but the park is always beautiful. The best color today is along the park road entering Lost Maples, where some trees have a little red tint and some have yellow with orange. The staff at Lost Maples appreciates your support and hope that you come visit us at this wonderful park. The drive out here is great and the Cypress trees along the rivers have turned a beautiful rust red.
TPWD photos taken on Nov. 9, 2015 by Richard Treece
Nov. 4, 2015: This is usually the time when we tell people that the maple trees are starting to change color and some trees are showing signs of change. The real problem is that a large portion of the trees are showing stress from the unusually warm weather and the excessive rain that we have had recently. This time of year we should have several cold nights under our belt and very dry weather. The day time temperatures in the 80’s and rain have had a detrimental effect on the color change causing the leaves to produce starch and not enough sugar. The leaves are turning brown and yellow then falling off during the windy rain events we have had lately. The trees starting to show color change are along the road in the park. The trees on the trails are showing the stress of the conditions. We will watch the trees and let you know if things change. We are hopeful for some bright colors on the trees not showing the signs of stress. The park is still beautiful this time of year and the drive out here is fantastic so come visit and enjoy the views.
TPWD photos taken on Nov. 2, 2015 by Richard Treece
Oct. 28, 2015: We found one maple tree with color in the Day Use Area. It is a small young tree with some beautiful red leaves and others changing to red. We have not seen any other maple tree in the park displaying color change and some of the maples on the East Trail are showing signs of stress from the heat. This cooler weather will help the maple trees in the production of sugar which is the reason they change colors. There are maple trees in the rest of the park that are in good shape right now and all we need is some cooler weather to really help with the sugar production. The rain was a big help and it gave a needed boost to our springs. The park looks beautiful and the Sycamore trees are starting to turn a golden brown, so come see us and enjoy this wonderful natural area. Hopefully the maples will start changing soon. We will keep you updated. This week we included some pictures of the Grotto area that we hope you enjoy.
TPWD photos taken on Oct. 26, 2015 by Richard Treece
Oct. 20, 2015: This warm weather has the maples holding on to their green color but hopefully the cold fronts headed this way will start changing that. The Maple Trail is in good shape but still shows no color change on the trees, although finding pictures of the beautiful green colors is easy. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of cold weather. The shorter days will also help but the cold weather with temperatures into the high 30’s is what we need. The park is beautiful as always and we hope to see you soon. Come visit, hike, picnic, and enjoy the peaceful beauty of the park. Remember that we are under a burn ban. The grills at the Day Use Area cannot be used, so bring a gas grill to cook on.
TPWD photos taken on Oct. 19, 2015 by Richard Treece
Oct. 13, 2015: The weather is not cooperating with us yet so the maple trees are in good shape but the leaves are still green. Cooler weather and shorter days would help get the color change to happen. The park is in good shape and for the most part the trees are doing really well. There are some showing signs of stress from the dry weather but recent rain has helped a lot. The park is full of hidden beauty and wonderful surprises in little out of the way spots that are easy to get to. Come visit the park in its unique setting, for the beauty and Hill Country views. We look forward to your visit and will gladly direct you to beautiful areas of the Park. Come see us now, it’s a great time to visit!
TPWD photos taken on Oct. 12, 2015 by Richard Treece
Oct. 7, 2015: We have arrived at the time of year when one question is on everyone’s mind: "What are the colors at Lost Maples going to be like this year?" At this point we can only tell you that the trees are in good shape and the park is beautiful. This warm weather is not helping start the color change, and if it persists the color could come late this year. Normally we see color changes starting to show on the trees around the last week of October into the first week of November. Let’s hope that the weather cools off and the colors reveal themselves in the latter part of October.
The Maximillian sunflowers are in bloom at the start of the East Trail. These beautiful yellow flowers are one of our favorites.
Come see us at Lost Maples State Natural Area. It is a great time to visit before the crowds arrive.
TPWD photos taken on Oct. 1, 2015 by Richard Treece
