Maples

There is exactly one canyon in New Mexico where you can find maple trees, trapped here by changing climate after the last Ice Age.

This is clearly the time of year to go see them.

We went about ten days ago, but the leaves were just starting to turn.  We returned yesterday to find the color at its height.  Walking along the trails was like walking beneath flame-colored Gothic arches.

The canyon?  It’s tucked away in the Manzano Mountains about a 90-minute drive from home, and appropriately enough is named after the Fourth of July.