Fall Foliage Report – Sept. 23, 2011

For the week of September 23, the calendar says fall, but Virginia’s forests are still mostly green.  If you look closely, you’ll see a few species of trees that begin to change color early.  These include black gum, which you may see waving bright red flags of color at the woods’ edge; yellow-poplar, a tall tree sporting yellow leaves scattered through its canopy; and dogwood, our State tree, which blushes to a dull red. Peak colors are expected in the mountains during mid to late October; the Piedmont and Coastal Plain are expected to peak during late October and early November.