Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year with orange, red and yellow leaves filling the trees.
It also holds a special place for many like Deb and Dale Budke. Deb says, "It's fun just to see the kids enjoy getting out and running around and doing things that are just in nature."
The concoction of colors can be intoxicating, and the recipe is always changing. The perfect recipe is full of ingredients like a lot of moisture throughout the year with a dryer end of the summer. Then warm fall days with cool, crisp evenings take over.
Maplewood State Park manager Don Del Greco says, "Last year's season was so moist, and we went in with abundant moisture. The leaves did hang on the limbs a lot longer."
This year's fall foliage is going to be different than last year's. It is because we have had such a warm, dry summer heading into the fall. You will still see those vibrant colors, but the changes may come and go rather quickly.
It may be fast, but nearly 1200 cars will come through Maplewood State Park each day during the next few weeks to see the peak of fall foliage.
Del Greco says, "Off in the background we have that unique opportunity at Maplewood to see the hardwood forest in the background of prairies."
It is a unique opportunity for anyone to enjoy mother natures beauty even if it is short lived.
"You have to look a little bit for some of them cause there is a lot of green, but there is some beautiful color in the trees," says Budke.
If you have never been to Maplewood State Park or want to visit again soon, they are having their annual Leaf Days event the last weekend in September and the first weekend in October.
It will be perfect timing for peak foliage.
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