photos by David Halterman

As the months of autumn progress and the days get shorter, aspen trees start absorbing valuable nutrients, such as chlorophyll, from their leaves. The nutrients go back into the trunk and roots in order to store them away for the winter. What is left behind are the natural pigments of the leaf, which vary in color depending on the amount of iron, magnesium, phosphorus or sodium in the tree. Soon the leaves will become dry and brittle, as gravity and the wind take care of the rest. So head for the hills and get your last eyeful of fall color before Mother Winter comes knockin, leaving only shades of grey for the many months ahead.

A jeep makes its way toward Henderson Lake atop Missionary Ridge on Monday as the aspens show their peak yellow before the inevitable and proverbial death of the leaf. Water beads on a fallen aspen leaf along the side of U.S. Hwy. 550 just north of Silverton on Sunday. The sun shines through a grove of aspens, which will soon drop their leaves with the oncoming cold weather. Aspens frame a cloud-engulfed Twilight Peak off Coal Bank.