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Weekly Fall Color Reports

2009 was another spectacular autumn in North Carolina. Just take a look through the pictures and video on the multimedia tab to get a look at some of the highlights.

Our fall color reports have wrapped up for the year, but we'll be back in September, 2010 to keep you up to date on where the foliage is peaking. In the meantime, enjoy North Carolina's other great seasons.

Fall 2009

Insider Tip: Enjoy your NC leaf watching during the weekdays! The colors are just as spectacular, but hotel rooms and restaurant tables are more available, roads more wide open, and hiking trials more natural.

Week #9, November 10th

Mountain Region

Leaf-peeping season is coming to a close in the mountains, with most of the trees past their peak. Be sure to check back next fall for another great fall color season.

Piedmont Region
Dick Thomas, expert piedmont reporter

The rolling hills of our North Carolina Piedmont Region are still holding some color, but most areas are experiencing substantial leaves falling. Many tree species such as Flowering Dogwood, Red Maple, Blackgum and Tulip Poplar, which were among the first to change, are now losing most of their foliage. Others, including Sweetgum, Sourwood, Crepe Myrtle and the numerous oaks, which typically begin developing their colors a bit later, are not far behind in casting their leaves. However, there are still a few bright spots left before the 2009 fall season fades into winter. 
 


Judy Sigmon, an educator with the Catawba Science Center in Hickory, reports that the leaf season is definitely winding down, but it’s not over yet. Ginko, Scarlet Oak and certain hickory species are making a final show this week, and the colorful fruits of Burford Holly, Pyracantha and crabapples are helping to brighten the softening fall color. Landscape plants, most notably Camellias, Red-stemmed Dogwood and the bright berries of Deciduous Holly are also contributing nice colors to the late autumn scenery.
 


Some areas in the eastern portion of the Piedmont are worth visiting for a fall season experience. Robert McCrory, Arborist with the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, states that 60 percent of forest trees surrounding the zoo have lost leaves. Nevertheless, a large number of oaks are providing orange and red colors, and hickories still support some golden yellow foliage.

South of the North Carolina Zoo, located along the Piedmont-Coastal Plain Fall Line, is the Sandhill Region known primarily for its golf courses. Making up the understory of native Longleaf Pine forests, which cover large portions of this interesting area of the state, are Turkey and Blackjack Oaks with scattered species of hickories. These mostly dwarfed trees, often suppressed by recurring fire used by land managers, are now beginning to develop colorful red, yellow and orange foliage. Kim Hyre, Ranger Naturalist at Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, a state park in Southern Pines, enthusiastically describes the Sandhills as a beautiful fall destination. Against the blackened trunks of fire-scarred longleaf, numerous oaks with their bright fall leaves show off nicely. Occurring as a ground cover and adding to the Sandhills colorful fall scene is wiregrass, a native grass that provides golden yellow hues. Moreover, a great variety of fall flowering plants known from this region help create a surreal landscape worthy of visiting.
 


Even though the fall season is coming to a close, there are still lots of destinations and areas to visit. Get outside and enjoy the wonderful diversity that North Carolina has to offer!

Week #8, November 3rd

Mountain Region
Howard Neufeld, expert mountain reporter

Asheville appears to be your best bet for mountain fall colors. The higher elevations along the Blue Ridge Parkway are past their peak, but down around the city, they are still quite showy. In the Asheville area, the oaks and hickories are peaking, with their yellows, reds and browns, along with red sourwoods, the occasional late maple, and deeply red black gums.

In the northwest mountains of North Carolina, we’re reflecting on what we had – an all too-brief, yet spectacular, fall color season. In the higher peaks, just the russet-red and brown oaks are still showing color, along with Bartlett pears, which remarkably, are one of the last turning trees in this area. A drive down U.S. 421 towards Wilkesboro showed some improvement in color, with more bright yellow birches, maples and tulip poplars, but even along this corridor, the peak had passed.

It's almost over in the Cullowhee/Sylva area, according to Kathy Mathews, from Western Carolina University. The mountainsides are looking very faded, but the leaves haven't all fallen yet. Down in the valleys there are still trees here and there with bright yellows and reds. Farther to the south, in Franklin, much the same story, according to Beverly Collins.

Continuing to the Cashiers-Highlands area, the leaves are pretty far-gone, particularly around Highlands. However, lower down, and in sheltered areas like the Tuckasegee Gorge between Cullowhee & Glenville, there are still scattered lovely trees - esp. hickories, russet-red oaks, scattered colorful maples, and sourwoods, according to Jim Costa. Oddly, a few small ones are still green - some maples and black locusts. Higher up most of the trees are bare, except for smaller individuals - maybe they are more sheltered. As recently as last week in the Smokies, the colors were fabulous, even fairly high up - lovely golden beeches and maples. However, the weekend rain and wind has knocked most of the leaves off now there as well around the Cullowhee, Cashiers and Highlands regions over the past few days.

In summary, there is will still be some good color this coming week, but not for much longer. So take a drive in the southern mountains this week, and soak in the last of the fall color for this season!  Happy driving and hiking and looking!

Piedmont Region
Dick Thomas, expert piedmont reporter

Last week was an amazing week in the Piedmont for fall color. Practically overnight our forests changed from 60 percent green to 80 percent brilliant color. Being one of the last species of trees to change, the oaks finally made their appearance toward the end of the week. While most areas in the region are reporting post peak coloration, a bright and sunny forecast promises to extend our leaf season for at least several more days. Despite the windy, rainy weather that the Piedmont experienced last weekend, the region remains washed in red, orange and yellow. 
 
From South Mountains State Park near Morganton, Park Ranger Allen Rogers reports the park is just past peak, but with lots of color still remaining. Red maples and golden yellow hickories are reported to be especially nice right now. A drive on Mineral Springs Mountain Road toward Valdese off Route 18, will provide particularly beautiful scenery and fall foliage.

Judy Sigmon, from Catawba Science Center in Hickory, reports the fall color season peaked this past week. Nevertheless, late color from crepe myrtles, ginkgo trees, Bradford pears and hearts a bustin’, otherwise known as strawberry bush, are filling in the color gaps. 

Although also entering the post peak period, Mecklenburg County areas to the south remain vibrant and colorful. Naturalist Donald Seriff reports that both sugar and red maples are blazing with orange, yellow and red, while most oaks have changed to yellow and brown. Persimmons are beginning to lose their leaves, but the tree’s colorful orange fruit help brighten the landscape throughout the Piedmont. 
 
Robert McCrory, Arborist at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, states that the zoo’s forests and landscaped areas are also approaching past peak coloration, but is still offering visitors a beautiful fall experience. Reaffirming the species’ habits of providing late season color, both red and white oaks have recently changed into red and yellow, with mixed shades of purple. The many rural roads leading to the zoo offer delightful areas from which to view fall foliage. Also located in Randolph County and not far from the zoo, The Pisgah Covered Bridge near the small community of Pisgah is surrounded by forested landscapes, and is perfect for a fall day trip.

From Raleigh’s William B. Umstead State Park, Superintendent Scott Letchworth reports while the park has seen the best of fall foliage, lots of color will remain for at least two more weeks. Hanging Rock and Pilot Mountain State Parks are also reporting past peak foliage, yet remain colorful destinations in more northern sections of the Piedmont.
 
Enjoy Fall 2009 while you can, and experience the North Carolina Piedmont in color!

Week #7, October 27th

Mountain Region
Howard Neufeld, expert mountain reporter

Well folks, come on up for a drive and a view – the northwest mountains still offer spectacular to see. And if you take the Blue Ridge Parkway between Virginia and Asheville, you can view the colors as they move down-slope. Here in the far northwest corner of North Carolina, the main peak has passed at the higher elevations, BUT we are not totally devoid of color! Now the oaks and hickories are showing off, while late turning maples are still providing good color in patches on the hills. The oaks have turned rust red, the hickories bright yellow and the maples mostly yellow but some are a brilliant red. Just starting to turn are the ornamental Bradford pear trees, one of our last fall color trees, and at lower elevations, sweetgums, both of which become a deep, burgundy red. The pear trees often last well into November, even in the mountains.

The color on N.C. Highway 181 from Jonas Ridge down to Steel Creek is incredible.  It matches some of the best colors I've seen anywhere this season, according to naturalist Jesse Pope at Grandfather Mountain. The highway runs through Burke and Avery counties. Table Rock and Hawksbill are at their peak color right now, too.

In the Asheville area, Jonathan Horton reports that colors are developing rapidly, probably spurred by the recent cold snap. The hickories are turning yellow and the oaks are beginning to color up. He thinks they should peak sometime mid-week to this coming weekend. Color in the mountains now will be found mostly in the 2,000-foot to 3,000-foot range, but moving down into the 1,000-foot range as color spreads into the Piedmont.

Jim Costa, from Highlands, says individual trees are exhibiting very vibrant colors. Maples, sourwoods, hickories and sassafras from Cullowhee to Highlands are at their peak, yet there is still a fair bit of green to add contrast. In Highlands, some trees have been nipped by frost and are somewhat past their peak, but there are lots of russet red - oaks beginning to turn, with the scarlet oaks farthest along. Cullowhee is still mostly green, but there are lovely reds and oranges here and there, with more trees turning each day.

Finally, Beverly Collins, who lives in Franklin, says color should peak at higher elevations near Franklin this coming weekend. There is already full color in their hickories and remaining color in maples, sourwood and gums. Oaks are just starting to change. Lower elevations have not yet reached peak color but probably will by the middle of next week.

For excellent fall color drives in that area, try the Cullasaja Gorge (Highway 64), over Cullowhee Mountain and down Ellijay (from Cullowhee to Franklin).  Also drive the Blue Ridge Parkway between Asheville and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the amazing Cherohala Parkway that goes from Robbinsville, NC to Tellico Plains, TN. Also, the drive from Franklin to Wayah bald, where, after a short hike to the Tower you can see an unrestricted view that is second to none in those parts, right where the Appalachian and Bartram trails intersect.

You can reach all of these destinations despite the rock slide on Interstate 40 at the Tennessee border. For more information on that, visit: http://media.visitnc.com/news/565/15/d,newsitem_latest_news.html.

And as always, you can check out my webpage at http://today.appstate.edu/fall-colors/ as well as my blog: http://www.fallcolorguy.blogspot.com/.

Happy Fall Color Viewing!

Piedmont Region
Dick Thomas, expert piedmont reporter

The Piedmont Region of North Carolina is beginning to blaze with color! Last week I reported that higher elevations at Hanging Rock State Park were reaching peak color, while lower areas were still predominantly green. To the east, west and south, foliage was reported to be holding at 40-60 percent green. A tipping point was reached this past week in our forests, as color rapidly spread across upland areas of the Piedmont Plateau and along scenic river valleys.

Hanging Rock State Park Superintendent Dave Cook told me that the change happened almost overnight, and that the entire park is now entering their peak period. Oaks and Hickories are rapidly changing into reds and yellows, while Red Maples are showing off with deep, bright oranges and reds. Matt Windsor, Park Superintendent at Pilot Mountain State Park in Surry County, reports that park elevations above 1,800 feet are just passing peak, while lower reaches of the park are beginning to enter the most colorful stages of fall foliage. Rural roadways such as Shoals Road between Siloam and Pilot Mountain, and Perch Road connecting the towns of Pinnacle and Tobaccoville, provide particularly scenic drives.
 


Practically any direction in which you might head in the North Carolina Piedmont, you’ll discover beautiful fall color. Bruce Beerbower from Catawba Science center in Hickory, is impressed with the colors along I- 40 toward Black Mountain. Bright yellows and oranges among the foliage of Tulip Poplar, Hickory and French Mulberry, highlight this highway corridor. Mixed with the crimson red of Flowering Dogwood and Blackgum, these roadside forests are beautiful. Jack Bowman, a volunteer at the science center, mentions the “absolutely amazing array of colors” along N.C. 181 from Morganton to Jonas Ridge. Crimson, various shades of red and orange and golden yellow, punctuate the roadsides in the western Piedmont. The area near Brown Mountain Overlook is also reported to be especially pretty with the yellows and reds of maple.


Central areas of the region are also beginning the peak period, which should last for two or more weeks depending on wind and rain conditions. The popular High Point Fall Leaf Boat Tours, operated by High Point Parks and Recreation on High Point City Lake, received rave reviews this past weekend. Golden yellow hickories, Tulip Poplars and Sassafras along the lake’s forested shoreline, helped create an ensemble of brilliant color with the reds and oranges of Red Maple, the deep red leaves of Sourwood and the beautiful red to purple foliage of Flowering Dogwood. Depending on which direction they face or how much exposure individual trees have, Sweetgum is contributing color varying between red and deep purple. These diverse colors reflected from the lake’s surface create an especially attractive landscape. Piedmont Environmental Center’s foot trails through these same lakeside forests provide yet another perspective of brilliant color and scenery.

From the Charlotte area, Naturalist Don Seriff with Mecklenburg County, reports color is everywhere in the Southern Piedmont. Elms are yellow, Sassafras is showing bright orange and Blackgum splash the scenery with vivid reds and purples. Highlighting the mid-story level are red Silky Dogwoods, and deep red and purple Winged Sumac. Visit South Mountain State Park near Connelly Springs and Latta Plantation Nature Preserve in Huntersville, for excellent fall color viewing.
 


If you want a special treat during this fall foliage season, head east to the North Carolina Zoo near Asheboro. Their beautifully landscaped grounds of native and cultivated flowers, shrubs and trees are especially colorful this year. Animal exhibits at the zoo are designed using many natural plant materials and landforms. Surrounding the zoo and viewed from numerous lookout areas, are also hundreds of acres of colorful forests. Moreover, the zoo is located in rural Randolph County where the many roads leading to the zoo are particularly beautiful. Heading further east toward Raleigh, visit William B. Umstead State Park. Park Superintendent Scott Letchworth reports that the park’s forest has undergone a 60 percent change this past week. Bright yellows and deep oranges punctuate the landscape, and should remain colorful for at least the next two weeks.
 
We are fortunate in North Carolina to have such diverse forested landscapes to enjoy in every season, especially in the fall. Enjoy the fall colors as they continue to deepen over the next few weeks!

Week #6, October 20th

Mountain Region
Howard Neufeld, expert mountain reporter

(With help from fellow fall color predictors: Jonathan Horton, Beverly Collins, Jim Costa, Kathy Matthews, and Jesse Pope)

Fall color is now in full swing in the mountains! From Linville Falls to Ashe County, peak has passed at higher elevations, but it’s moving downslope and will be in the 2,000 to 3,500 foot range this coming week. I was in Transylvania County last Thursday doing a spot for the Weather Channel on behalf of VisitNC.com, and the colors there were just starting to come out and look nice. With the cold weather that is expected for this weekend, we might see peak color speed up in that part of the state.

Jesse Pope, Chief Naturalist at Grandfather Mountain writes that the Blue Ridge Parkway along the flank of Grandfather is still very nice. The mesic cove forests are really putting on a nice show right now while the dry ridges and heath balds have lost most of their leaves. The towns of Banner Elk and Newland are still spectacular, as well as points south on the Blue Ridge Parkway toward Spruce Pine. Off Highway 181, toward Morganton, colors are just beginning to change at around 2,000 feet. I would rate the colors there this year at 9 or even 9.5 on a scale of 10! We’ve been lucky, because even though we’ve had a lot of rain, we haven’t had very much wind, so the leaves are hanging on the trees a while longer.

Moving south, Jonathan Horton at UNC-Asheville’s Biology Department writes that colors have progressed some but have still not peaked. Maples are starting to add color, as is poison ivy. There is some yellow now on the hillsides, but green is still the dominant color. Looks like the peak will be at least one more week away in the Asheville area.

In Cullowhee, Kathy Matthews from Western Carolina University’s Biology Department writes that the trees have not changed much since her last report, except that many are browning and dropping their leaves. Color is very spotty in this area, but she’s starting to see lots of oranges and yellows (birches, maples, poplars), with spots of red starting to come out on maples. They are expecting their first frost on Sunday night, so hopefully that will rev things up!

And still further south, in Franklin, Beverly Collins, also from Western NC, writes that dogwoods, sumacs and gums are showing red, while birches, maples and hickories are yellowing up, but most oaks (which turn late) are still green. Tulip poplar again, is mostly brown or gone. Colors should peak at the higher elevations this coming week and a week later at lower elevations.

For good drives, check out the Blue Ridge Parkway all the way from Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I would also recommend a drive in Transylvania County, where I was last week. Try U.S. Highway 276 through the Pisgah National Forest, with its abundant waterfalls, beautiful leaves and the Cradle of Forestry, where forestry started in the United States!  What more could you ask for?  Enjoy!

And don’t forget my webpage at http://today.appstate.edu/fall-colors/ and my blog at http://www.fallcolorguy.blogspot.com/

Piedmont Region
Dick Thomas, expert piedmont reporter

With the Piedmont experiencing predominantly cloudy, overcast skies and ample rainfall throughout most of the region this past week, color change has struck a holding pattern. However, for the first time since beginning our 2009 Piedmont fall foliage reports, a substantial and significant difference between elevations in the Piedmont Region is now noticeable. Reporting from Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County, Park Superintendent Dave Cook observes that higher elevations in the park are now starting into peak period, while lower areas have not changed significantly over the last week. Approaching the park from NC Highway 66 and 89 in Stokes County, you can see a dramatic difference as color sweeps down from the top of Hanging Rock before fading and blending in at lower elevations. Nearing the elevation of 2,572 feet, Dave believes that leaf change is between 40 and 50 percent. Red Maple, Blackgum and Sweetgum, Sourwood and Flowering Dogwood, are showing off nicely with oranges, yellows and reds. 
 
In central portions of the province, the area has not changed much over the last several days. Some minor yellowing of Hickory and Pawpaw can be seen, while Tulip Poplar, Red Maple, Flowering Dogwood, Sourwood and several other species continue to hold or deepen a little in color. Very slight changes are seen in the various species of oaks, which are in the region’s more mature forests. Approximately 60 percent of the landscape remains green. Nevertheless, North Carolina Highway 109 south through Uwharrie National Forest, North Carolina Highway 66 north beyond Kernersville and through Walkertown and North Carolina Highway 65 west between U.S. route 29 north and U.S. route 220 south, provide nice driving areas for pretty fall foliage. Color will continue to improve over the next few weeks.

A similar report comes from the southern Piedmont. Don Seriff, Naturalist with Mecklenburg County, reports that besides slight changes in some oaks, hickories and elms, southern reaches of the Piedmont Region are holding at about 60 percent green. Plan some trips to South Mountain State Park or Crowder’s Mountain State Park for some beautiful fall get-a-ways.

To the west and through the Catawba River Valley, Bruce Beerbower at Catawba Science observes that little has changed over the past week. Sweetgum is showing some pretty bronze-golden yellow foliage, and some nice color mixing is occurring with Tulip Poplar, Red Maple and Flowering Dogwood. The drive north toward Linville Falls on Route 181 is particularly enjoyable and will provide some beautiful views as the days pass.  
 
The Eastern Piedmont of North Carolina, around William B. Umstead State Park near Raleigh, is still washed in green. However, Betty Anderson from the park reports that pockets of color is brightening the landscape, particularly the colors of Flowering Dogwood, Red Bud, Sweetgum and the yellowing leaves of American Beech.
 
The frost, and chilly temperatures in the low 30s, which occurred throughout our portion of the state Sunday night, and the mostly clear weather we will enjoy this week, will create important changes in our colorful fall foliage. Expect beautiful fall colors to continue developing over the days and weeks to come!

Week #5, October 13th

Mountain Region
Howard Neufeld, expert mountain reporter

(With help from fellow fall color predictors: Jonathan Horton, Beverly Collins, Jim Costa, Kathy Matthews, and Jesse Pope)

Fall color has literally exploded in the northern section of the mountains. A drive along the east flank of Grandfather Mountain (near Boone) on the Blue Ridge Parkway reveals breathtaking color diversity. In fact, color there is the best in this section of the state, with intense reds mixed with bright yellows, oranges and even brown. It should last through this week and maybe into next weekend, although as I’ve said in my reports this year, colors are somewhat early this year.

Interestingly, colors are strikingly different in Watauga and Ashe counties to the north. Here, yellow, orange and browns dominate, with fewer reds. Perhaps this is because there are more oaks, hickories and fewer maples there. Nevertheless, the colors are still striking and worth seeing. They’re peaking between 4,000 and 3,000 feet now, and moving downhill fast. I expect by next weekend that colors in the 2,000 to 3,000 feet range will be showing up nicely, even as far south as Highlands, especially if it doesn’t rain too hard, which could knock leaves off the trees. Despite early predictions of a bad color year, the color is in fact, excellent. People I polled on the Parkway were rating the colors 8.5 to 9 (one girl told me it was an 11 out of 10!) so they are definitely worth a trip out to see this year!

Color is developing rapidly in the mountains from Asheville down to Highlands, and probably beyond to Murphy also. This week and the coming weekend should be the peak at elevations near 3,000 feet in that section of the mountains. Maples, sourwoods, sumacs and black gum are showing up as the red trees, while birches, tulip trees, magnolias and some sugar maples are highlighting yellow. Good drives are US 64 from Hendersonville all the way to Highlands, and of course, on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville south into the Smokies. Highlands may be slightly ahead of Cullowhee and Waynesville in color development, and along the escarpment the views this week and weekend should be the best. A cold front (and more rain) is coming and should hasten color development, so it is best to get out this week and the following weekend.

Also, Clingmans Dome is at peak with yellows of birch, beach and maple and a little orange. There is some red at the highest Smokies elevations (4500-6500 feet). Mid-elevations with oaks are not at peak yet. Later this week or next week will probably have good color in the 3000-5000 foot level.

This year, red color is coming big time from red maples (Acer rubrum) along with sourwoods (Oxydendrum arboreum), huckleberrys (Gaylussacia baccata) and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica). Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is turning a lovely yellow to bronze while the really big turners this week are the Fraser magnolias (Magnolia fraseri), going from yellow to a deep chocolate brown. Other yellows come from birches (Betula sp.) with even brighter yellow on the witch hazels (Hamamelis virginiana) and striped maples (Acer pensylvanicum). Scarlet and red oaks (Quercus coccinea and Q. rubra) are just beginning to turn a deep, maroon (but sometimes bright) red. Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, many of the tulip poplars this year are going straight from green to brown, when usually they turn a golden yellow. Perhaps the excess soil moisture has affected them.

Other good drives in these areas are, US 64 from Brevard to Highlands which is spectacular now, mainly at the higher elevations. The Blue Ridge Parkway from the NC-VA border down to the Viaduct, and then beyond to Mt. Mitchell is great for fall color viewing. Highways 184 and 194 in Avery, Watauga and Ashe counties, and Highway 88 in Ashe County, offer beautiful backcountry drives away from the crowds. Enjoy!

Piedmont Region
Dick Thomas, expert piedmont reporter

It’s beginning to look a lot like Fall in the North Carolina Piedmont. Although our foliage is still hovering around 70 to 75% green, last week’s widely scattered pattern of color has started to blend into more of a patchwork or color. Most of our Red Maples are at least 80% orange and red in many locations, while the deepening red foliage of Flowering Dogwood is beautiful. Tulip Poplars are adding their golden leaves. The blood-red leaves of Sourwood and the deep purple of the Sweetgum are showing off nicely. Except for minor changes in our white oaks, none of the red oaks have started to turn. What is often overlooked in our fall color patterns are the importance of pines; their dark green background often makes our changing deciduous trees that much more colorful and bold.
 


Don Seriff, Naturalist with Mecklenburg County reports nice colors of Red Maples, and the deep purples emerging in many ornamental cherry trees. Persimmon trees, still with their orange fruits, which persist into early winter, are highlighting areas with attractive orange and red leaves. Winged Sumac with vibrant red foliage, and the yellow of Tulip Poplar and Eastern Redbud add to the growing mix.
 


In Hickory, the Catawba Science Center’s Bruce Beerbower reports that grape vines and Virginia Creeper vines are sporting yellow leaves. As these vines creep into maples, Sweetgum and others, they add an interesting blast of color to individual trees.
 


From William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh, Park Superintendent Scott Letchworth highlights the changing colors of Red Maples and Sourwoods punctuating the forests of our Eastern Piedmont. Driving from the Coastal Plain this past weekend along Interstate 40, I was impressed with the noticeable changes in just a four-day period. Many Red Maples, Sourwoods, Sweetgums and the yellowing leaves of Tulip Poplar and Black Locust, made the drive increasingly nice.
 


Park Ranger Jaye McClure at Hanging Rock State Park (north of Winston-Salem) is particularly impressed with the color she is observing in Flowering Dogwood, Sourwood, Tulip Poplar and Red Maple. Driving from lower elevations to the summits of our isolated “monadnock” mountains of the Piedmont, illustrate how changes in elevation impact habitat, tree species composition, and changing fall foliage.

Enjoy the changing foliage in the Piedmont as the Fall Season continues to unfold in color.

Week #4, October 8th – Addendum

Mountain Region
Howard Neufeld, expert mountain reporter

With help from fellow fall color predictors, Jonathan Horton, Beverly Collins, Jim Costa, Kathy Matthews, and Jesse Pope -  here is a fall color update for the Asheville, Cullowhee and Highlands areas, as well as Joyce Kilmer forest by Murphy.

At Grandfather Mountain, just south of Boone, Jesse Pope, the chief naturalist, says fall colors are progressing rapidly, especially at the higher elevations. The flank facing the Blue Ridge Parkway is spectacular now, especially the view from Beacon Heights. Overlooks heading north toward Price Park now contain “stunning colors”. He thinks this coming weekend and the following week will be the peak there.

Jonathan Horton, from UNC-Asheville, says the dogwoods, sourwoods and Virginia creeper are at their peak red color now, while the maples are just starting to turn. Bittersweet is a golden color now. Jonathan thinks the peak in his area will be in about two weeks.

Further south, around Cullowhee, Kathy Matthews, from Western Carolina University, says color is only just starting at her elevation of 2,200 feet, and includes mainly the sourwoods and creeper. Still further south, Beverly Collins, also from WCU but who lives in Franklin, says that there is scattered color, mostly red due to the sumacs, creeper, dogwood, sourwood and poison ivy. She makes the astute observation that those species with fruits to be dispersed in the fall are often the ones that turn the earliest!  She also notes that some species are going directly to brown, such as the tulip poplars, some oaks, hickories and sycamores.

Finally, Jim Costa, Director of the Highlands Biological Station in Highlands, says the same trees are turning there, but the hickories are a gorgeous yellow now, with birches just starting to turn yellow too.

For good drives in those areas, US 64 between Franklin and Highlands is spectacular now, mainly at the higher elevations. The Blue Ridge Parkway between Asheville and the Smokies is good for fall color now. Look for north-facing slopes, as color develops sooner on them than on south-facing slopes at the same elevation.

Week #4, October 6th

Mountain Region
Howard Neufeld, expert mountain reporter

Fall colors have really started to show at the higher elevations around Boone now. We’re still a week or so ahead of the peak, but the color progression is really notable now. In particular, the maples (Acer saccharum and A. rubrum) are really showing now, with some trees a bright orange and others a deep, intense red, especially at the tops of their crowns which get the most light. Other trees showing off their red color this week are the sourwoods (Oxydendrum arboreum), winged sumacs (Rhus copallinum) and Virginia creepers (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). Trees with yellow fall leaves are becoming more conspicuous and include tulip poplars (Liriodendron tulipifera), Fraser and cucumber magnolias (Magnolia fraseri and M. acuminata), basswoods (Tilia americana), ashes (Fraxinus sp.) and yellow and black birches (Betula alleghaniensis and B. lenta).  

We’ve had a lot of rain recently, so whether the fall colors are as intense as last year is a toss-up at this point. My inclination is that we will experience a predominance of yellows and oranges this year, with fewer reds. However, some maples are bucking that notion, and have truly intense red colors. Some horticultural varieties have even been bred for their bright fall foliage. Some good drives would be the Blue Ridge Parkway from the Virginia border down to Asheville, and especially around Grandfather Mountain and Mt. Mitchell. The next weekend should be especially nice for fall colors. I noticed on my way up from Charlotte Sunday that trees down there and around Hickory were already turning too!

This week’s Science of Fall Color Column discusses why Ginkgo leaves turn such a bright yellow in the fall. Hint: something in dog pee is involved!  Check out my fall color blog at http://www.fallcolorguy.blogspot.com/.

Piedmont Region
Dick Thomas, expert piedmont reporter

This week I reiterate that our Fall Season color is progressing and is just around the corner! However, last week I predicted that I would be able to report this week substantial changes in our foliage, but the Piedmont region is still mostly green- just not as deep green as in previous weeks. We’ve had brilliant days of bright sunshine this week, with nighttime lows dipping into the mid to upper 40s. This is the perfect prescription for the development of beautiful fall color!

In the Central Piedmont, a definite yellowing of most species is noticeable to the discriminating observer. Those species which have been changing all along such as Flowering Dogwood, are really showing off now with reds and purples. Red Maples are beginning to change from the tops down with pinkish reds, oranges and yellows. They will be beautiful this year. Winged Sumac is beginning to add their fall red leaves to the developing mix, and Persimmon leaves are turning nicely into red with their orange fruits adding a special touch. Tulip Poplars have been slowly changing to yellow over the last few weeks. Winged Sumac is starting to show some red, and the compound leaves of Black Walnut are beginning to turn yellow. Oaks and Hickories remain very green.
 
Bruce Beerbower, Naturalist at Catawba Science Center in Hickory, reports that the Red Maples and Flowering Dogwoods are standing out with different shades of pink and crimson red. Bruce also mentioned he is seeing bright yellow foliage in their hickories and Tulip Poplars, while Staghorn Sumac continues to develop beautiful deep red leaves adding color to the lower levels of forested landscapes. He also reports that Baker Mountain County Park, the highest elevation in Catawba County at 1,780 feet, is slightly ahead of lower elevations with changing Blackgums and Sourwoods sporting shades of reds and purples.
 
From northern areas around Hanging Rock State Park we are told that foliage is in a holding pattern, while the word from Scott Letchworth at Umstead State Park in Raleigh is a slight deepening of foliage color, but no major changes otherwise.

In the south, Don Seriff, Naturalist with Mecklenburg County, is enthusiastic about the color he is seeing in several species. Don tells me that Black Walnuts, as here in the Central portion of our state, are beginning to turn yellow. Flowering Dogwoods are brightening from dull red to a more vibrant red with Blackgum trees beginning to turn reddish. Winged Sumac is turning red, with grape and poison ivy vines showing their yellowing fall leaves.
 
These emerging colors are harbingers to come. We’ll see what next week brings to our Piedmont!

Week #3, September 29th

Mountain Region
Howard Neufeld, expert mountain reporter

After a wet week, and a drenching Saturday, a cold front has moved in and the sun is now shining again. Over the next two weeks, we need these sunny, cool days to maximize our chances of a great fall color display. Colors are just beginning to show around Boone. Sugar and red maples (Acer saccharum and A. rubrum) are changing, with the occasional bright red tree standing out in a canopy of green. Tulip poplars (Liriodendron tulipifera), Fraser magnolias (Magnolia fraseri) and basswoods (Tilia americana) are now turning yellow. Dogwoods went early this year, including our native species (Cornus florida) and the ornamental kousa (C. kousa). Right now, both have brilliant red fruits flanked by green to burgundy red leaves. Burning bush (Euonymus alata), a common ornamental shrub, has turned an absolutely bright red. On clear days, it stands out against an azure blue sky like no other plant. 

Over in Avery County, near Banner Elk, Baker Perry (professor of meteorology at Appalachian State University) tells me that colors are also just beginning to show around his house, which sits at approximately 4,000 feet in elevation. Jesse Pope, Chief Naturalist at Grandfather Mountain, says the mountain ash (Sorbus americana) berries are a bright red, making them stand out against their still green leaves, although some leaves are turning yellow. Red maples on Grandfather are now a vibrant orange. However, most forests in the High Country are still predominantly green. The next two weeks will be crucial for fall color at these high elevations.     

To learn about the Science of Fall Color go to my Fall Color webpage at: http://today.appstate.edu/fall-colors/. This week’s column discusses how global climate change might impact fall color in the future. Also, check out my fall color blog at http://www.fallcolorguy.blogspot.com/.

Piedmont Region
Dick Thomas, expert piedmont reporter

Except for a few locations, the dominant color of our foliage in the Piedmont continues to be green—although we are seeing patches of color. This past week saw daytime temperatures ranging from the high 80s to the more seasonal 70s, with the week ending in much needed gentle rainfall. Evening temperatures were generally in the 50s and low 60s. We are hoping that the rainfall will help reduce stress on some of our tree species which appear to be losing leaves prior to complete color change. Before Friday and Saturday's rainfall, we were about 5 inches below normal. Park Ranger Scott Coffman reports from higher elevations at Hanging Rock State Park to our north, that several changes are becoming a bit more apparent. Dogwood, Sourwood and blackgum trees are beginning to show nice foliage color. However, soon after most Tulip Poplar leaves turn yellow they drop, presumably due to drought. This is being reported from around our Piedmont Region; however, those Tulip Poplars occurring on the edges and shorelines of our reservoirs are managing to hold their yellow leaves.

Judy Sigmon from Catawba Science Center near Hickory tells me that Sourwood, Persimmon, and Red Maple are showing their reds, so those of you heading to the mountains travelling I-40 West should begin to enjoy Fall season color as you approach Hickory.

From the Charlotte-Mecklenburg areas to our south, we hear that very little has changed in the past week. Winged elm trees are beginning to turn yellow in some areas, but green otherwise dominates the landscape in the Southern Piedmont.

Umstead State Park Superintendent Scott Letchworth states that besides some changes in Dogwood, Persimmon and Sourwood, the forests of our Eastern Piedmont remain green, as are Central Piedmont areas. Dogwoods around the High Point-Greensboro-Winston Salem Triad Region are showing off nicely, particularly those on forest edges. I have a feeling that this time next week, with cooler temperatures and bright sunshine in the forecast, I'll be reporting more changes. I promise that fall is just around the corner!


To track the color others are seeing across the state, follow our leaf reports on www.Twitter.com/VisitNC and www.facebook.com/northcarolina

Week #2, September 23rd

Mountain Region
Howard Neufeld, expert mountain reporter

Greetings from the High Country! Sugar and red maples are showing their colors in town, as well as out in the countryside, with nice displays of yellow/orange and sometimes a brilliant red.  Along with the maples, the Virginia creepers have turned a deep red as they twine up the trunks of trees. Virginia creeper becomes more visible as the host tree loses its leaves through the fall. Birches have also started to turn yellow.

However, for the most part, green is still the predominant color. Jesse Pope, the Chief Naturalist at Grandfather Mountain, says that the yellow buckeyes, red maples, hobblebush, huckleberries and yellow birch are starting to show from the highest elevations down to about 4,000 feet. It will still be a few weeks until the forests here break out in their full color display.  This past week, the weather has been rainy (but not windy, thank goodness!), but as I write, the sun has just come out again. Our best fall colors usually come with cool, sunny conditions, so if the weather continues to be good for the next few days, we should still be in for a good fall color season.

Since it looks like the colors may be a little early this year, you might plan trips to the High Country anywhere from the beginning of October to mid-October. And remember, for every thousand-foot drop in elevation, the peak in fall color is delayed about a week. 

For more details, and for my Science of Fall Color column, consult my Appalachian State University Fall Color webpage at: http://today.appstate.edu/fall-colors/. This week’s column discusses why there is so little red color in the trees of Northern Europe compared to North America. Happy Fall Color from the Fall Color Guy!

Piedmont Region
Dick Thomas, expert piedmont reporter

There hasn’t been a great deal of change in our Piedmont fall foliage through the week of September 14. Reports from Hanging Rock State Park to the north suggest that their forested landscapes remain “pretty green.”  However, leaves of individual Sourwoods, Blackgums and Flowering Dogwoods continue to slowly change into the medium and deep reds for which these species are noted. Shorelines surrounding central Piedmont reservoirs and lakes are likewise still dominated by green, but scattered locales are spotted with the yellowing leaves of Sycamore. These occasional Sycamores when standing next to early changing Red Maples and Dogwoods, are harbingers for what is likely to be a beautiful fall in the Piedmont.
 


To the south in the Charlotte and Mecklenburg area, minor yellowing of individual Tulip Poplars and Redbuds continues to develop, especially those in direct sunlight. Otherwise, few changes have been noted. Creeping into the Piedmont from our North Carolina mountains and seen along I-40 approaching Hickory and points west, are scattered pockets of early yellows, oranges and reds of Tulip Poplar, Flowering Dogwood and Red Maple, respectively. Individual sumacs along the highway’s berm are beginning to show beautiful red leaves, which will deepen as the weeks pass. In the Eastern Piedmont, especially in areas around Umstead State Park, only very early and slight changes in foliage can be observed. Looking closely one might notice a very subtle yellowing, but few species have started to unmask their fall colors. Stay tuned over the next several weeks as our North Carolina forests and countryside explode into riotous color!      

Week #1, September 15th

Mountain Region
Howard Neufeld, expert mountain reporter

Greetings again to everyone interested in leaf color for the fall of 2009. Let me get right to the big question, “Will there be good fall color this year?” My answer: a definite MAYBE! That is because fall color is hard to predict this early in the season, since it depends so heavily on weather conditions. I think the four to six weeks prior to mid-October are the most crucial, although others place more emphasis on what happens earlier in the season.

So, what am I predicting for this fall? Having been one of the coolest summers in recent years, I’m thinking we might have an early fall peak. In fact, sugar maple trees are already turning color and dropping their leaves here in Watauga County. So, my first prediction is that fall colors might peak earlier this year than normal. Normal for Boone is mid-October. This year it might be week or two earlier if present conditions keep up.

If September has cool, sunny days and cool nights, then my second prediction is that there will be good fall color this year. On the other hand, if September is mostly cloudy, rainy or unusually warm, then fall color will be muted. Right now, most tree species are still predominantly green, but yellow buckeyes are turning yellow-brown, sugar and red maples a yellow to brilliant red, dogwoods a deep burgundy color, and Virginia creeper and poison ivy turning red and red/yellow at this time.

Good places to see fall color include anywhere along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain State Park (our newest state park!), and Elk Knob State Park in northern Watauga County (with 360o views!). Each week, I’ll let you know how the colors continue to develop in the High Country. Here's to good fall color for 2009!

For more, check out Howard's in-depth report.

Piedmont Region
Dick Thomas, expert piedmont reporter

Although the Fall Season is creeping in on Piedmont North Carolina, we are still in the grip of late summer. Summer 2009 was a somewhat mild season compared to the previous three with fewer days registering 95+ degrees. Now, our days have noticeably shortened with the autumn equinox scheduled to occur on September 22, when both day and night are approximately equal (hence the term equinox). Reduced daylight hours, and the accompanying cooler temperatures of the approaching fall season, are triggers for anticipated fall foliage changes.

At higher elevations where temperatures tend to run cooler, some changes are just beginning. Hanging Rock State Park, for example, reports a few minor changes in Sourwoods and Black Gums. Sourwood leaves are among the first to change, and will eventually unmask beautiful deep red pigments. Black Gum usually develops a blotched leaf pattern of reds and deep browns. Stay tuned.

As of this date in our eastern, central and southern Piedmont, just a few very early changes are taking place. Perhaps on steep northern hillsides where temperatures may be a bit cooler more obvious changes might be seen. There are reports from the Charlotte area that droughty conditions are taking a toll on certain tree species such as sweetgum, where many are casting or dropping shriveled brown leaves. Given the opportunity to contribute to fall colors, sweet gum leaves are usually a beautiful deep purple. In other areas a very subtle and slight yellowing of leaves of several species is being noticed. Individual Dogwoods, especially those on the edges of our woodlands and forests, are starting to turn into reds and yellows. Some Sycamores and Tulip Poplars are showing some brighter yellows but color is still very subtle.

added: September 8, 2009

updated: November 20, 2009