The forecast was for a few inches of snow Sunday night, but when I peeked outside about 8pm, huge snowflakes were falling and everything was covered. What would the morning bring?
Heavy, wet snow clinging to everything, not a breath of wind, 20 degree temperatures. This means a trip to Garden of the Gods. A beautiful winter wonderland–Colorado Springs style!
Right now the clouds are low in the sky making the sky’s color match the snow-covered ground. Later today we will have bight sun and 40 degree temps, so let’s explore this winter wonderland before it disappears!
Walking in the Central Garden, the massive rocks appear to be–well, one massive rock. With snow on every edge and bush, we get a different view.
This pine rising up above the bushes appears to have ready-made snowballs for the plucking.
South Gateway Rock with Gray Rock, also called Kindergarten Rock, behind left.
Do you see the old man’s profile?
Cathedral Spires, Central Garden.
Gambel Oak not giving up last-year’s leaves which are still all over the tree.
Gray Rock (Kindergarten Rock) offers so much more than gray.
One of the Cathedral Spires, historically called Temple of Montezuma. What is that yellow-green? It is foliose lichen, brilliant in winter and easy to see. Lichen are actually everywhere. Very slow growing and can reach 1,000 years old. They love colder weather, below 50 degrees, and go dormant in summer heat. We’ll keep looking for lichen on this overcast, basically white day, that makes all colors pop.
See the Kissing Camels atop North Gateway Rock? Top, mid picture.
Another “snowball” pine against massive North Gateway Rock.
Red rock popping in the western hills.
Central Garden stroll. Slow down and savor every detail of each view. Want to try IDing the formations? Here’s a map listing the major features (pages 2-3).
The trees are coated with heavy snow–no ice involved. What a wonderland!
Standing under the tree we can see snow clinging to every branch and every needle of this pine.
Leaving the Central Garden, let’s take a ride to High Point Overlook, the highest place you can drive in Garden of the Gods at 6,339 feet. Ahhh, there’s Pikes Peak! Hmmmmmm . . . another day.
Love finding “halloween trees”, twisting and turning to make scary shadows.
The sun is breaking through as we look north toward the Gardens. Oh, no wise cracks about the red rock left 😉 You can tell it is getting warmer because standing under trees now means dodging those “snowballs”!
What a gorgeous morning. FYI, by 2pm the sun was bright, the sky was blue, the wind was warm. The only snow left is on the still-frozen, unpaved ground. Looks like muddy trails for a while, but what an amazing walk in such a glorious winter wonderland!
Until next time my friend . . .
