Sugar Maple Crowns, Hueston Woods State Park, Ohio
This photograph of brilliant fall colors of Sugar Maple trees was made in Hueston Woods State Park in southwest Ohio. These maples were adjoining the road to Sugar Camp, on a beautiful, clear, sunny October morning. The sunshine was striking the fall foliage from the top and side, turning the brilliant yellow leaves into a scene as intense as a campfire flaming out before working down to coals.
I was on a 'hunt' for photos of fall foliage, my favorite photos at my favorite time of year. I was living in southwest Ohio, surrounded by the occasional thickets of sugar maple and ash that dot this region of the country amid the flat farm fields.
Hueston Woods State Park is a nature preserve not far north of Cincinnati. The west side of the park consists of old growth beech, sugar maple, and other hardwood trees that have escaped the logger's saw.
The flip side is that, given modern civilization and the exclusion of fire and predators of deer, the huge old forest is dying. Too many stately old trees, too few seedlings, saplings, and pole timber.
The earth will rebalance this place when it's time, as it will all places. In the meantime, enjoy the big trees while you can.
Photo location: Hueston Woods State Park, Preble and Butler Counties, Ohio.
