Barbara Lawlor
Nederland
This past weekend was radiant with aspen glow, the leaves beginning their annual transformation, their demise slow and spectacular.
Thousands of leaf lookers clogged the Peak to Peak highway, their iPhones hanging out the windows of their vehicles, large groups of shutterbugs standing on the edge of the cliff overlooking the largest stand of gold along the highway.
Every year around the end of September and the beginning of October, the lights turn on. The dark green of summer aspen leaves dim, change to green yellow and then begin brightening again, exploding in bunches of gold, orange and red.
For about two weeks, the mountains take on the colored patterns of Oriental carpets, lush and vibrant, exuding beauty that can't be captured. Then suddenly the leaves dull, turn brown and dry and die, and eventually float down on the first strong breeze to mingle with the dirt.
This past week the aspens hit their peak, basking in the warm sunny days and changing their pigment in the cool nights. These conditions are prime for bringing out the best fall colors. It is now that the aspens prepare for winter by shedding their coat of colors.
The change in hues occurs when chlorophyll, the green leaf pigment, ceases to be produced by the plant. When all the chlorophyll is used up the other colors become visible. Carotenoid pigments make yellow and orange and anthocyanins make red, and soon, they too will be used up. As the aspens trees become dormant, the leaves make their glorious swan song and return to the earth.
In the spring, the aspen buds burst forth with new life, once again, living for the few weeks every fall when they are the stars on the mountain stage.
Although many of the local stands have been stripped of their leaves, there are still areas that will pop open for one more weekend, and flat landers will pour through town for their last chance to catch the gold.
