2017 Lost Maples State Natural Area Fall Foliage Report Archive
Nov. 27, 2017
This is the last official Foliage Report for 2017, and Mother Nature seems to have saved the best for last. The younger maples in the picnic area and campground have all gone gold since last week. While many have shed most of their leaves, there are still quite a few with a full crown of glory. Old Faithful by the overflow parking area is almost empty except for a finish of red. The canyons have been blessed with Texas Red Oaks that have begun offering their reds, rusts, and maroons to the mix of yellow from the Escarpment Black Cherry and Pecan trees, with the Sycamores almost empty.
As the trails enter the beauty and tranquility of their winter wonder phase, the layers of multicolored leaves on the ground are an important part of the ecology. Smaller wildlife need the fallen leaf cover for safety and habitat, and the decomposition is necessary to replenish the soil with nutrients for the coming growth seasons. As a State Natural Area, all the leaves are protected; please leave them in nature and take only photographs.
TPWD photos taken Nov. 27, 2017 by Colette Nicholl
Nov. 22, 2017
The winds that brought in the cold front last week knocked a good portion of the remaining Maple leaves off the trees. Many of the trees in the Day Use picnic area and the campground have gone red or gold, but are half-empty of leaves, but some are still full of foliage in mid-change. The Texas Red Oaks are starting to change now, so the park still has some color to offer.
Enjoy the sunny and cool days walking down the trails, footsteps crinkling the fallen leaves in many shades of autumn colors of maples, oaks, sumacs, and sycamores. The Bushy Bluestems still have fluff, the Lateflowering Thoroughworts still have blossoms, bees, and butterflies. Soon we will move into the winter season of mist, muted colors, and morning fog.
Thanksgiving week is our busiest of the year, so plan your trip accordingly. Check for other outing options if the park closes before you arrive.
TPWD photos taken Nov. 21, 2017 by Colette Nicholl
Nov. 15, 2017
Mother Nature threw us a curveball this week; after shifting the old maples into high gear, she gave us a week of wet, rainy weather. Most of the trees on the Maple Trail, and the trail to the pond, have turned yellow to brown, and are dropping leaves rapidly. The ground is covered by a blanket of red, yellow, and brown leaves from the sycamores, maples chinkapin, and post oaks, and various other shrubs and plants. Even the Virginia Creeper seems to be giving in to the weather.
Only the younger maples in the day use picnic area, and the campground, still have some color to offer. Many still have green leaves with red tops or edges. The peak seems to have passed us by, leaving the Texas Red Oaks to be the clean-up crew in a couple of weeks, if we're lucky.
The fall color may be fading, but the park still has beauty in the fog and mist, and cold days with bright blue skies can still bring calmness to a busy world. Come out and enjoy the park while the weather is still comfortable.
TPWD photos taken Nov. 12, 2017 by Colette Nicholl
Nov. 8, 2017
We are rapidly approaching the peak foliage season. Most of the maples are in mid-color, and changing daily. The canyon walls are aflame with deep reds, oranges, and rusts. Old Faithful is a glorious auburn, the Flameleaf Sumacs have burst into red, and are quickly dropping their leaves on the East Trail. Many of the Texas Oaks and Chinkapin Oaks have turned to red or brown, and the other native trees are turning yellow.
The next seven to ten days will most likely be the showiest, before the leaves really begin to fall. The mornings lately have been misty, with the afternoons clearing to blue skies and warm sun. Cooler weather is coming, so plan your trips accordingly.
This coming Sunday is free entrance for everyone in observance of Veteran's Day on Monday. We are expecting to be very busy, so be prepared with alternate activities if we close due to capacity.
TPWD photos taken Nov. 3 and Nov. 6, 2017 by Colette Nicholl
Nov. 1, 2017
We've had several nights of below-freezing temperatures in the last week, and it seems to have affected the longed-for changing of the leaves. Many of the trees along the canyon walls have begun to change, and can be seen along the drive into the park. The larger maples in the campground are tinged with orange, and the sycamores are rapidly losing their leaves. Most of the trees in the Day Use picnic area have been touched with orange, and even Old Faithful by the overflow parking lot has begun to assume its autumn color.
The roads to Lost Maples are beautiful this time of year, especially along the rivers. Bald Cypress are 'rusting", Flameleaf Sumacs have brilliant color, and the flora are giving way to seasonal changes. Come out and enjoy the Sabinal Canyon's fall display, but try to come during the week: the weekends are already becoming very busy.
TPWD photos taken Oct. 30, 2017 by Colette Nicholl
Oct. 25, 2017
The recent cool fronts have let the maples know it's time to begin the gradual change from green to orange. Some of the smaller trees have begun to change, but the older trees are just tinged with color. Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefoil) has shown the most color since last week. The sycamores are now mostly brown and orange, with only the youngest trees hanging on to their summer greens. Many plants still have their late summer blooms. Old Faithful by the Overflow parking lot has not added any color, nor have the bigger trees in the campground. It looks like we still have another week or so to go before we see a lot of change.
The weather has been gorgeous: bright blue skies, fluffy white clouds, refreshing breezes. Come out and enjoy the park in all its early autumn beauty. Mother Nature is calling!
TPWD photos taken Oct. 23, 2017 by Colette Nicholl
Oct. 18, 2017
The cold front that came through early this week was in the 40s and high 30s at night, but we have not seen it encourage any real change yet. The sycamore leaves are rapidly changing to brown and dropping, but most of the maples and oaks have stayed green. Here and there a few trees have leaves that have gone brown, but no real autumn, foliage color change is upon us yet.
The weather is perfect for hiking and camping. Warm days and cool evenings mean day hikes, picnicking, and campfires with s’mores and stargazing.
TPWD photos taken Oct. 18, 2017 by Colette Nicholl
Oct. 11, 2017
As summer winds down, the park has received some much needed rains. This has given a spring-like atmosphere to the grasses and trees. The large majority of maples are still cheerfully green, while only the sycamore seem to realize autumn is upon us. We shall have to wait and see if the cool front that arrived Monday night will have any effect on the changing of the leaves. With the much-anticipated cooler temps, now is a good time to visit the park.
TPWD photos taken Oct. 9, 2017 by Colette Nicholl
