Thursday, October 31, 2013

Fall Foliage Report - Oct. 31, 2013

The weather has slowed the fall season color change. Nighttime temperatures around freezing and bright sunny days are needed to produce vivid colors.  

In Southwest Virginia, few areas of peak color remain. In the New River Valley, colors are at peak or past peak. In the Shenandoah Valley, approximately 50% of the trees have color. The Piedmont still has has approximately 60% color. The Coastal Plain is transitioning away from green is expected to peak in mid-November.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Fall Foliage Report - Oct. 24, 2013

Fall color season is underway across the state.

In Southwest Virginia, peak colors can still be seen in many areas.

In the New River Valley, colors are near peak in the higher elevations, and approaching peak in the lower elevations. In the Allegheny Mountains, colors are at peak or approaching peak. In the Shenandoah Valley, approximately 50% of the trees have color.

Elsewhere in the state, the Piedmont has approximately 60% color. The Coastal Plain is expected to peak in mid-November.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Fall Foliage Report - Oct. 16, 2013

The bright sunny days and cool, crisp nights we're experiencing now are ideal conditions for trees to bring out their fall colors. These colors are revealing themselves across the state.

In Southwest Virginia, colors continue to transition away from green. In the higher elevations near Abingdon, colors are at peak.

In the New River Valley, approximately one-quarter to one-third of the trees have color. In the Allegheny Mountains, significant color change can be seen in Highland County. In the Shenandoah Valley, the fall color change is underway.

Fall colors continue unfolding in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Fall Foliage Report - Oct. 9, 2013

This summer, there was plenty of rain for the trees to stay green. But, the summer's weather doesn't have much to do with how colorful the fall leaves will be. It all comes down to October's weather to determine how brightly colored October's leaves will be. Bright, sunny days enable the leaves to produce lots of sugar. Then, cool, crisp nights above freezing will produce brilliant colors. So far this month, the weather has been right on track for a vivid fall.

Color changes continue throughout the state. In southwest Virginia, noticeable color change is underway. Color change can be seen in tree species such as poplars, sweet gum, dogwood and maple. At this time, 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.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Charlottesville-area forester interviewed about fall foliage

Jack Kauffman is a VDOF forester who covers Greene and Madison (among others) counties for us. He's a great resource for local landowners, and he developed one of our driving tours. You can see his prediction for this season at the link below.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

October 2, 2013




Sure, it's officially Fall in the Old Dominion, but have you seen much color yet? Probably not - Virginia’s forests are still mostly green.

In Virginia’s woods, trees aren't  the only species changing color this time of year. Shrubs and vines also decorate the forest understory with color.

Take a close look along woodland edges - you'll see the bright red leaves of sumacs.


Virginia Creeper
Poison ivy colors early, usually showing deep red leaves clinging to tree trunks.

Virginia creeper’s 5-parted leaves turn a bright, clear red.

The native wild grape usually sports yellow leaves, and the invasive Oriental bittersweet turns a bright golden yellow.

The fall color change happens on a reliable schedule each year. The mountains will show peak color during mid to late October; the Piedmont and Coastal Plain are expected to peak between late October and mid-November.