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Written by Story and photos by Rod Haulenbeek
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Wednesday, 01 October 2008 |
Ahh, October…my favorite month of the year for trees. The trees in the Truckee Meadows never cease to amaze me with their vibrant colors. I think our fall colors rival those anywhere. This is because in fall we have warm days and cool nights with little rainfall, perfect conditions for bountiful color displays.
Although trees start turning color in August and turn until early November, October is the month for fall colors. And where are the best places for checking out the colors? In my opinion, the best places have many numbers and kinds of trees within walking distance of a free parking space. My choices are Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno (where I will be conducting a walking tour on Saturday, October 18th), the University of Nevada at Reno and Idlewild Park in Reno (where I will be conducting a walking tour on Tuesday October 21st).
Rancho San Rafael
The Wilbur May Arboretum is the best place for leaf peeping in this park, with hundreds of trees and shrubs for your viewing pleasure. It is basically split up into three sections. The area just north of the museum has colorful trees and shrubs set among perennials, Big Basin shrubs and wildflowers. To its east is a forest setting, partly composed of oaks and partly of a number of other colorful trees and shrubs, including a Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) in the middle. Across the bridge at the far end and up the hill is the third section, planted within the last 10 years. It has about 70 different kinds of trees and shrubs that seem to have been planted with fall colors in mind.
To get to the Arboretum, go to the north end of Washington Street in Reno to the Wilbur D. May Museum. There is generally ample parking there. There is also a parking lot about 300 yards to the east on the street in front of the museum.
The University of Nevada
Although fall color is not as concentrated as in the two other arboreta, walk around a corner on the campus and you may be treated to color (besides, it’s a lovely walk).
Parking is more difficult here. One of the best places to park is along Evans Street south of the campus or Eighth Street (an east-west street just north of the freeway). You’ll have to hike a couple of blocks, but I always enjoy a stroll through the majestic lower campus.
Idlewild Park
There are about 75 different species of trees and shrubs with fall color. They range from newly-planted trees such as the bright red European Spindle Tree (Euonymus europaeus) – which is found along the path in back of the lake and near the Kiddie Park – to the neighboring old Red Maples (Acer rubrum, coloring yellow, orange, and red) and Silver Maple (Acer saccharhinum, coloring yellow). Amazingly, each of the big Red Maples has a distinctive color that it seems to repeat year after year. If you take the path around the western part of the lake and across the dam, you will probably see the best variety of fall colors.
Free parking is available all over the park. So go for a walk and enjoy the color!
Rod Haulenbeek is on the Reno Urban Forestry Commission and is addicted to trees. His Web site www.wide-eyed.info has internal links to fall color lists and maps for both Rancho San Rafael and Idlewild Park. |
