Fall Color Report for Week of 9-25-11

Fall Color Report for the Week of 9-25-11

From
Howie Neufeld, The Fall Color Guy

This marks the first official week of fall, and between our last report and this one, the trees have responded dramatically, with very noticeable color changes occurring here in the mountains. I took a drive this weekend down to Linville Falls and Grandfather Mountain State Park, and there is a significant increase in color on the hills, although I must emphasize that the forests are still about 80% green, so the peak is yet to come.

On Grandfather Mountain, color is very pronounced on the heath balds and rock outcrops. Above 4,500’ color is quite advanced, and on the eastern and lower flanks of Grandfather (the side facing the Blue Ridge Parkway) there are one or two ridges with excellent color already. You can get a great view of this from the Beacon Heights parking lot, and also on the rock outcrops at Beacon Heights (take the short trail to the top for spectacular views).

Species displaying the most right now include sugar and red maples. Sugar maples turn yellow initially, then convert to an orange/red hue, while the red maples turn a brilliant red. Particularly interesting is how many red maples are showing flagging, which means that only certain branches are turning red, while the rest of the tree is still green. Eventually, the entire tree will turn red though. This has been an unusual year with respect to maples, which are turning about two weeks ahead of their usual time, for reasons we do not fully understand.

Sourwoods are coloring up rapidly also, and turn a deep burgundy red. Huckleberries and high bush blueberries in exposed areas are also turning a nice red now. Sassafras trees are putting on a nice display, with leaves turning yellow, orange and finally red (sometimes all on one tree!). Serviceberries and mountain ashes are also beginning to turn, and black and yellow birches are providing a nice yellow highlight along roads and trails. Fraser magnolias are losing their green and turning either yellow or brown now. Some of you may notice the Rhododendron maximum (the most common rhododendron) losing leaves now, but no worry. This is normal for this species, which holds onto its leaves for up to seven years before they turn a bright yellow and drop off. A related species, R. catawbiense, which grows in the Linville Gorge among other places, has leaves that become deep orange-red at this time of the year, and you can see them from the outlooks at Linville Falls, off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

If I had to make a guess right now, I would predict a slightly earlier peak to the fall foliage colors this year in the mountains, with perhaps the weekend of October 7-9 being the peak in the Boone/Grandfather area, and maybe the next weekend further south around Asheville. In the Highlands/Cashiers area, you can often expect colors to peak at around the same time as in Boone, or just slightly afterwards. In the Smokies, colors will peak in early October at the higher elevations, and then work their way downslope, with a delay of about 5 days for every 1,000’ drop in elevation.

If you’re looking for good fall foliage drives, of course try the Blue Ridge Parkway from Virginia down to the Smokies, as well as the Cherohala Skyway from Robbinsville, NC to Tellico Plains, TN. If you want to avoid the crowds, try the back roads of the High Country, which afford great viewing with few distractions. As usual, you can check out my fall color page (http://biology.appstate.edu/fall-colors) and the fall color facebook site (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fall-Color-Guy/222437294470967). You can leave comments on the fallcolorguy blog (http://www.fallcolorguy.blogspot.com/) and on Twitter. Wish for sunny cool weather and have a great trip up to the mountains this fall!