VANDERPOOL, Texas — Texas is starting to cool down a bit, the sun is setting earlier these days, and the leaves are starting to change.
One of the best fall spots in Texas is Lost Maples State Natural Area where the superintendent said Texas weather this year has been perfect for the bigtooth maples.
"I'm starting to see some oranges and reds up there," said Lisa Fitzsimmons, superintendent at Lost Maples State Natural Area.
Once a week, she puts together a leaf report so visitors know when the best color is happening.
"So, the maple leaves need the cold weather to tell it's fall and the sunshine to start the transformation to turn it into red leaves," said Fitzsimmons. "Always on the top of the trees you're going to see more at first than underneath because they are all shaded."
She's encouraged by this week's check.
"Before this cold front came, I thought, ‘We're not going to make it,’" said Fitzsimmons. "Here we are going to get into November, we're still going to be hot. Is it fall? Is it summer?"
Sure, some didn't make it through the heat but the drought doesn't worry her too much.
"Actually these trees right here, they've got a water source right here," said Fitzsimmons "This is our natural water. It's all spring water that comes from hundreds of springs within this park."
The springs help the Hill Country trees when it's dry. This way of survival is what this West Texas native knows a lot about.
"I just worked in offices. Not having a college degree and not really having a career, I just had to get a job to support our family," said Fitzsimmons. "I set my sights on getting that degree and I went back to school, Texas Tech!"
That four-year college degree led right to the manager position at the exact park she wanted.
"I kinda started late in life, but it's something that I wanted to do and I got here," said Fitzsimmons.
The place inspires her every day.
"Oh the color is much better this year," said Fitzsimmons. "I think the timing of the cold fronts was perfect and the prolonged coolness.”
Weather proves that “peaks” will come.
For Fitzsimmons, the leaf reports are only a small part of managing all 3,000 acres. Ultimately, she knows life is all about the changing of seasons.