Thursday, October 27, 2011

Fall Foliage Report – Oct. 28, 2011

Some trees that are overlooked at other times of the year really begin to shine in mid-autumn. Hickories are scattered throughout Virginia’s forests, from the mountains to the sea. These rugged trees have compound leaves that turn a clear golden yellow. Sweet gum has truly amazing fall color. You may see deep red, orange, yellow, and even purple on the same tree.

Here’s the update on fall colors across the state. In the New River Valley, more than 75% of the trees have peak color. In the Shenandoah Valley, fall color is evident on between 65-75% of the trees. Plenty of color can still to be found in the mountains, especially among the oaks, although recent rain and wind brought down some of the early turners.

The Piedmont has approximately 50% color and is expected to peak in early November. The Coastal Plain is expected to peak in mid-November.

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