BOONE, Iowa — Now into November, the World Series is over, Iowans normally are raking up lots of leaves. But this year the color is staying on longer. Peak color has passed, but certain maples are still showing bright color, with bright sun and blue skies.

“As we go into the fall, we start to get less sunlight and our days get shorter so the trees begin to recognize that and they decide, it’s time to save some energy,” said Keenan Stinson, the Natural Resource Specialist with the Iowa Arboretum. They stop producing chlorophyll because less sunlight and instead they produce these anthocyanins, which are responsible for the purple and reds colors that you see.”

At nearby Ledges State Park there are still some trees showing bright color. Several campers are braving the cool nights inside RV’s to enjoy this beautiful time of year.

“It’s the best time of the year when you can have, I call it hoodie and shorts weather, which is what I’m doing right now,” said Bredan Buchanan of Glenwood. “Right now the colors are in all their glory, as you come into Ledges there’s two beautiful autumn blaze red trees that you kind of just drive right down the middle of and you know that you know fall is in all of its glory right now.” 

“I think it’s beautiful out here, and there’s a lot of wildlife deer, and the colors are pretty,” said camper Robin McCarty from Jefferson.

At the Iowa Arboretum they stay open all year ’round. WHO 13 Meteorologist Jason Parkin visited the Arboretum mid-October to see the color changes and learn about opportunities at the park including family photos and playgrounds.

“With a nice breeze I mean, it’s really calming and so often encourage people if you have a day off, just come take a walk relax wind down and enjoy the world around you,” said Stinson and don’t worry so much about what’s going on at home.”

Ledges State Park is located south of Boone. The Iowa Arboretum is located northwest of Madrid.