Moments of Nature: December 2022

This month we celebrate the colors of fall in San Marcos. Through early December, color could be found all around the city, including in our natural areas. These photos, however, focus on the autumn splendor seen along the San Marcos River, from Spring Lake to Rio Vista Park.

What are the best trees for fall color in Central Texas? The list is surprisingly long, but these are a few of the most obvious: flameleaf sumac, red oak, soapberry, cedar elm, Texas (not Arizona) ash, and even the non-native crape myrtle. Not often seen on the list is one of the most spectacular trees for fall color in our region, the bald cypress. You’ll see any number of these trees along the San Marcos River and around the ponds on the Texas State campus. Many of the following photographs feature them as well.

Thank you, this month, to Rene Perez and Cindy D’Anton, who generously allowed us to include some of their striking images here.