In this weekend's Sunday Sound-Off, OnMilwaukee.com readers named Holy Hill as the best place to see autumn's explosion of color. And on a trip there yesterday, it sure seemed like the place to be.

Even though the leaves are just starting their transformation, the scenery was beautiful, with colorful tree stands dotted around corn fields swaying in the warm breeze and rows of soy beans, now mostly rust colored but with a few yellow plants and even some green ones holding on to summer.

An apple orchard stand was packed full of people even though the pumpkin farm up the road was only mildly busy and there was no waiting for the camel rides.

The lots at Holy Hill weren't quite full, but the café was. There were a lot of people: bikers on thrumming Harleys, parents pushing strollers up the hill, busses of tour groups – all of which seem to speak either Polish or Spanish. The stairs to the scenic lookout remain closed, but the terrace outside the main church still offered views clear to Downtown Milwaukee.

The shop appeared to be doing a brisk business and right outside its doors, a priest was blessing an adorable puppy.

Alas, Holy Hill seems to be suffering from a different kind of assault than the one launched by vandals in spring. These days, every inch of space – inside and out – is under attack by those ladybug-looking asian beetles, which bite.

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