September 28, 2008 - Fall Colors

Diana and I just returned from a two-week stay on the North Shore (Minnesota’s shoreline along Lake Superior). Right along the shore the leaves are just starting to change to their fall colors. However, if you go a couple of miles inland, they are in their full glory. The difference is caused by the moderating effect that Lake Superior has on the weather near the shoreline.

Here are some examples of the gorgeous scenery. The maples provide brilliant red, orange, and yellow leaves at this time of year. I especially like it when some of the leaves have changed but others are still green. This photo has the additional benefit of including some birch trunks that give a nice contrast.

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This is the view looking down a path leading into the woods near Finland, Minnesota.

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Some of these fall colors are so bright when the sun is shining on them that they seem to glow. In this photo you can see leaves from the same tree that range from still green to brilliant red. You can even find individual leaves that are half green and half red.

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It’s not just the trees that turn colors. The understory plants also contribute to the brilliance. Here’s a view of a hillside in an area that was burned by the Ham Lake fire about 16 months ago. You can still see a couple of the charred stumps near the bottom of the photo. It was a devastating fire, but as you can see, the area is starting to recover.

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We also drove up to Lutsen Mountain. Here is a view of the colorful hill that you see when you get up there.

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