![]() ![]() ![]() In the upper Midwest, meanwhile, the fall colors should be “bright and on time,” says Jim Salge, a foliage reporter for Yankee magazine and former meteorologist, to Forbes’ Suzanne Rowan Kelleher.īut aesthetics aside, what’s going on below the surface to produce such a colorful spectacle? As they prepare for winter’s harsh weather each fall, various species of deciduous trees lose their leaves and go dormant. The hot, dry weather is stressing the region’s trees, which may result in duller colors or even early browning and dropping, reports NJ.com’s Len Melisurgo. In some parts of the East Coast, where broad-leaf trees like oaks and maples are more common, the outlook is a little less rosy because of this summer’s intense heat and drought conditions. We want cool nights, not cold, and we want really warm sunny days.” “The forecast is favorable for aspens and fall color in general,” state forester Dan West tells the Denver Post’s John Meyer. Weather forecasters are calling for warm temperatures and below-average rainfall, which is good news for leaf-peepers planning a trip to the Centennial State.Ĭolorado’s aspen leaves turn buttery-yellow every fall. In Colorado, which draws travelers every autumn for its dazzling displays of buttery-yellow aspens, the leaves will reach peak foliage in the Rockies toward the end of September and the beginning of October, according to the map. “Now, tens of millions of people use our map each year to plan vacations, weddings and photography trips.” “What started as a fun side-project quickly became the most respected nationwide fall leaf map and one of the best fall resources in the country,” says David Angotti, the map’s creator, to Travel + Leisure’s Stacey Leasca. The result is a sophisticated (but not totally foolproof, as the tool’s creators note) county-by-county prediction of when the leaves will go through various stages of the color-changing process. They developed an algorithm that takes into account historical temperature and precipitation data, forecasted temperatures, user-generated reports and past years’ leaf trends.Īn interactive map shows when the fall colors will peak across the country. The team created the first iteration of the map back in 2013 when they began getting questions from travelers about the best time to visit the Smoky Mountain region for optimal fall color. Fortunately, the tourism site for the Smoky Mountain region put together an interactive fall foliage map that plots the changing leaves across the United States from September to November. As autumn’s cooler temperatures and shorter days set the trees ablaze with color, now is an ideal time to plan a leaf-peeping road trip, hike, train ride or other excursion to take in the views.īut since the conditions change from year to year, knowing exactly when to head out to see peak color can be tricky. They come in a range of plummy shades from deep crimson to colors so dark they're almost purple.Saying farewell to the long, warm days of summer can be bittersweet, but the sheer majesty of the changing fall foliage makes the transition a little bit easier. If you like the idea of dark red leaves acers are a good choice. It will thrive in most soils except those that are shallow and chalky.Ī more unusual option, the compact Japanese dogwood is particularly prized for its dazzling purple-red deciduous foliage in autumn.Īs it matures it forms a small multi-stemmed tree that makes an elegant focal point in the garden, and particularly suits small gardens as it only grows to a height of 16.5ft (5m). Cotinus ‘Grace’ (smokebush)īeautiful and ornamental, in addition to the dark red autumn color this tree has creamy white flowers and dusky pink fruits for a long season of interest. They are also easy to propagate because they have shallow roots. In terms of trees with red leaves, you can't beat acers. This elegant ornamental tree is a sun lover that does best planted in a sheltered position with well-drained soil but can easily thrive and adapt to most conditions. While each variety of acer differs in size and colour, they all share a similar fiery color palette so it's worth finding out how to grow acers for guaranteed year round interest in your plot. In general Japanese maples are easy to maintain, with the tallest reaching a maximum of 26ft (8m), while this particular one reaches a height of around 13ft (4m). ![]() It suits gardens of all sizes and even grows well in containers. The leaves are unusual because they're purple in spring rather than green, then in summer the foliage starts to change color, becoming scarlet by autumn as the seasons shift.Īcer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ is one of the easiest trees to grow for fall color. This small deciduous tree has a naturally rounded shape and layered branching structure. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |