Down here in South Texas, we’ve got summer temps almost all year except for three days in February when it dips to the 50s. It doesn't rain much down here either, so there is a lot of brown down here. Brown dirt. Dirty homes. Dirty cars. Dirt everywhere. So when I see a little bit of greenery, I get excited because it's as if I’m in a different place.

So when I read about Lost Maples, I was really excited. There was a place in Texas where the leaves didn’t just turn from green to brown when I wasn’t looking. I've been wanting to go for years, but I never got around to going until this past weekend.

Lost Maples State Natural Area entrance hosts trees of all colors.

My mom heard about Lost Maples through a friend. Her friend’s (perfect and always engaged but never married) daughter took her. They had a picnic and wine. So for nearly a year, I had to hear about it from my mom. Last month, the temperatures dropped and the Lost Maples Web site started their foliage report. I called my mom and told her it was now or next year.

As is in my mother's nature, she invited everyone under the sun. Fortunately, only my grandparents accepted her invitation.

Dad, Abuelita, Mom and Dan'l pose outside the restrooms.

Even though I thought I would be able to sleep the whole way, I ended up driving my car while my grandparents rode with my parents. Dan’l rode with me (and he wouldn’t shut up for 204 miles!). Richard stayed home to deal with the dog and the fence (a bitch is in heat two houses down). Doesn't make sense to be invited to go out of town and then have to drive myself, but you can't argue with my mom.

The scenic drive to the park was full of hills and twists and turns. I felt like throwing up a couple of times so I stopped looking down. That’s not as much fun.

We waited an hour to travel approximately 1.5 miles to enter the park and then waited 30 or 40 minutes to pay the entrance fee.

This is what a state highway looks like when you're not moving.

If you squint, you can see that the line goes on forever.

We were there about an hour and left.

I wanted to stay behind while my parents drove back to La Pryor (my grandparents can’t really walk around on rough trails), but my mom said, “We’ll wait.” That didn’t leave us with much time for exploring; it was just enough time for my parents and grandparents to get a snack. Dan’l was upset, but he got over it. Just like I got over not being able to drive to Medina for apples.

Dan'l climbs as the leaves fall.

Yes, we traveled far to see trees.

Anyway, I think next year I’ll make plans to visit during the week when everyone else is at work.