Impression Evergreen

Bergen Park Trail The Bergen Park Trail is a distinct walkway that circumnavigated a very old swath of ponderosa pine forest. The giant trees blot out the sun but some especially resilient rays of light pierce the canopy of sharp needles. The subtle luminescence is responsible for the soft shadows that creep across the summer’s last tufts of tall grass. At the southern section of the green belt, the scenery opens up where a pair of little ponds reflects the scenic backdrop. This mild season seems eternal as there has been hardly a hint of the snow that normally adorns the landscape this time of year. We will wait anxiously for the first big storm that generates the winter weather to which we’ve become so accustomed. Bergen Park Circumnavigates old pine Ponds reflect the backdrop Mild season seems eternal Waiting for a storm

Riverbend Ponds in Fort Collins Nestled below the northern Front Range, Riverbend Ponds is a natural area located on the outskirts of Fort Collins, Colorado. It’s absolutely beautiful this time of year because the surrounding forest is an artist’s palette of autumn colors. The Poudre River and its nearby collection of crystal-clear ponds is a haven for the 200 different species of birds that pass through this wetlands paradise. Dirt pathways criss-cross between the different lakes offering the spectator a delightful perspective from almost anywhere in the park. During a quick hike along the looping, main trail there are white pelicans, blue herons, snowy egrets, Canada geese and mallard ducks. The prettiest part of the marshy ecosystem is the razor-sharp reflections that decorate the water’s smooth surface. The peaceful preserve is an idyllic locale where Longs Peak looms over the picturesque valley. A north wind, characterized by its cold bite, blows down from the big peaks...

Staunton State Park Last week we visited Colorado's newest state park. Located just six miles west of Conifer, it reminds some of Sherwood Forest in England because of the huge, old-growth ponderosa pine trees. Others believe the jagged, granite peaks resemble Yosemite National Park in California. Frances Staunton, who gifted the property to the State of Colorado in 1986, described the area "as a natural wilderness-type park ... typifying Colorado's most beautiful mountain forest and meadow region." When Frances was six her family left West Virginia and headed to California, searching for a healthier, drier climate. They arrived in Denver during the winter of 1905. The beautiful, snowy landscape inspired them to stay in Colorado forever. Her parents were both doctors. Archibald and Rachel Staunton set up medical offices downtown at the Republic Building. Shortly thereafter, they purchased the mountain property and Mrs. Staunton lived up there in a cabin seven m...