小城Boulder的賞楓地點多年來觀察除了Chautauqua Park及鄰近街道外,當屬Mapleton Hill地區。
Mapleton Hill位在小鎮西北邊山腳下,是Boulder地勢最高的一個小丘陵台地。
Boulder自1859年建市以後直至1860年移民們仍集聚在Pearl Street一帶的圓木屋,但隨著人口的增多,“The Boulder Land and Improvement Company”在Boulder的西邊現在的Mapleton Hill購買土地,準備開發新社區,當時公司會看中這裡是因為這裡地勢較高、排水良好、空氣清新,加上可南眺那令人驚嘆的Flatirons的景色;然而這裡的迎風面和貧瘠的土地也是遭人嫌棄的,該公司乃在此地種植了超過200棵的銀色槭(楓)樹(silver maple)和三角葉楊(cottonwood),以吸引購屋者;並且在1862年闢有一條渠道,蜿蜒地流經社區,可灌溉1500英畝 的土地;今日遊客到Mapleton Hill地區,你除了欣賞那19世紀末的復古式建築外,數百棵當初種植的銀槭(楓)樹(silver maple)和三角葉楊(cottonwood)也大多還存活著,粗壯的樹圍、挺拔的枝幹、似華蓋般的枝葉,矗立大道兩旁,綠蔭蔽天。每年的10月份是這裡最美的季節,楓紅滿天,走在大道上猶如置身綺麗世界中。
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Mapleton Hill我走過的最佳賞楓範圍約在下列街道包圍的區塊內:
東邊9th St.、西邊4th St.、南邊Spruce St.和北邊Mapleton Ave.四條街圍起來的區塊,這個區塊內的楓樹以銀楓(Silver Maple)居多,部分是糖楓(Sugar Maple)和紅楓(Red Maple),參雜一些挪威楓葉(Norway Maple),其中尤以銀楓(Silver Maple)最為珍貴,大多有一百多年的樹齡,而林蔭大道旁則是一百多年以上的歷史建築,所以每年秋天來此不但可以賞楓,而且可以欣賞19世紀末的復古型式的建築。
Boulder賞楓景點介紹:
以下幾個景點是我認為Boulder值得一看的景點:
景點一:Chautauqua Park
該公園楓樹不多,有幾棵糖楓(Sugar Maple)外,還有幾棵挪威楓葉(Norway Maple),因為該公園緊緊依偎在Boulder的地標Flatirons山腳下,有了Flatirons當背景這些楓樹就特別突出,此公園除了楓樹外更多的是橡樹(Oak)、榆樹(Elm)和梣木(Ash),這三種樹葉子也都會變紅和變黃,葉子變色的時間和楓樹很接近,橡樹(Oak)稍晚一些。
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景點二:Chautauqua Park北邊街區的14th St.、15th St.、16th St.、17th St.,尤其14th St.和15th St.有幾棵可看性的糖楓(Sugar Maple)。
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景點三:Canyon Blvd.和6th St.交叉口停車場(此點不在上述的區塊內)
Canyon Blvd.和6th St.交叉口,Boulder Municipal Court對面停車場內有兩個小水塘,Boulder Creek Path就由水塘邊繞過,水塘邊高大的Ash和數棵Maple每逢葉子變色季節,水中倒影值得一看!
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景點四:Mapleton Ave.和9th St. 交叉口,原Mapleton Elementary School校園邊
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這棵位在Mapleton Elementary School校園邊的紅槭(Red maple)是Boulder的珍貴老樹,往年這時節整棵樹葉子轉為通紅是Boulder一大景點;Mapleton School原是一所小學,創立於1888年,由於該社區是老社區或是跟台灣少子化的相同命運,該頗有歷史的名校在2003年還是逃不掉關門的命運;前幾年該校已轉型為“early childhood learning center”,改變為一所“Preschools”,校園經大加整修後,這棵原本枝葉茂盛的紅槭被修剪成一根棒棒糖,實在可惜!
景點五:Mapleton Ave.和5th St. 交叉口
此交叉口西南角有四棵Sugar maple特別鮮豔,今年的葉況則不甚理想。
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景點六:Highland Ave.和8th St. 交叉口
此交叉口西北角有三、四棵Sugar maple和一棵蠻大的Autumn Purple Ash,襯托上街旁數棟豪宅,是我每年必去取景的地方!
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景點七:Spruce St.和8th St. 交叉口
此交叉口西南角有一棵蠻大的Sugar maple,東南角也有幾棵Norway Maple。
景點八:Mapleton Ave.整條街兩旁及兩車道間安全島,Silver Maple和Sugar Maple均有其可看性。
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其他地區:
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