How to preserve fall color

• In Central Texas, look for changing colors on bald cypress trees — which typically grow along our rivers and lakes — red oaks, pecan trees and cedar elms.

Yes, but: The season here is fleeting. Blink and you might miss it.

The big picture: The leaves are changing later this year because the weather turned cooler much later than normal, Karl Flocke, program leader with the Texas A&M Forest Service, told KUT.

Zoom in: Fortunately, there's an easy way to preserve fall colors, inspired by 1000 Hours Outside, a book and digital platform with ideas for outdoor activities with kids.

What we did: Press some colorful leaves in a book for a couple of days — we skipped this step and still had stellar results — then melt beeswax tea lights in a double boiler until you have a pool of hot wax.

• Dip the leaves in the wax and let them dry on wax paper.