Our fall here in New Jersey is usually beautiful, filled with every color you can think of. Not this year, though. I guess the trees were starved for moisture and many of them never turned, just curled up their leaves and let them go. We have a little color here and there but nothing like usual.

In Colorado the fall is golden. Pure, spun gold is what the aspens (and the cottonwoods) turn. This year was a spectacular year for them -- wow. I did share some some photos on Facebook, but for those of you who are not on Facebook I wanted to post some here. 

We took a drive one day and a picnic lunch of leftover fried chicken to view the colors. Our trip was on dirt roads (or course, what else?) along the Laramie River Valley.

Aspens don't always have to turn gold. Some turn orange and some get to a glorious shade of orangey-red. I've been told that it has to do with the mineral in the soil. Since aspen within their groves all share the same root system, the results can be magnificent, or they can be mixed.

I love this old cabin/barn and the remains of what were other buildings. I like to think of some crusty old cowboy living here.

Here is Bull Mountain as seen from the road near our property. 

Whether viewed en masse or alone ...

... they are always a beautiful sight.

(I know I've been terrible about blogging and I'm sure some of you have dropped me off your reading list. I am sorry and vow to do a better job of blogging and commenting on your blogs.)

Those are lovely photos. It has been a beautiful year since we have had so much moisture.  Glad to see you made it back to NJ OK.  Hope to make connections on your next trip out.

Debra, thank you! We hope to see you too next time we are there. We’ll be there for a few days in June (not sure of dates yet) and again in the fall.

Great photos! Thanks so much for bringing me a Wyoming autumn! Didn’t you have a relatively colorless fall in New Jersey a year or two ago? Seems like I remember you writing about that. A lot depends on the weather, I know.

Don’t worry—you’re still on my reading list!

Oh, sorry—a COLORADO autumn, I meant. (I was thinking Wyoming because of the Laramie reference!)

Thanks, Steve and you’re welcome. Actually, it’s a combo trip and part of it was in Wyoming and part in Colorado! So you are correct on both counts!