Fall Foliage
October 31st, 2005 | While in the car returning to Decorah from Chicago this weekend, I mentioned that for some reason, I thought this fall had the deepest, most beautiful colors I can remember. It seems as though all of the colors (at least in NE Iowa) are very deep and rich. I thought that it was probably just the fact that I hadn’t seen fall colors in a year, but Kelly said that this year’s colors are deeper, and there is an explanation for it.
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry says,
Temperature, light, and water supply have an influence on the degree and the duration of fall color. Low temperatures above freezing will favor anthocyanin formation producing bright reds in maples. However, early frost will weaken the brilliant red color. Rainy and/or overcast days tend to increase the intensity of fall colors.
Kelly said that Iowa has receieved the perfect amount of rain this year, therefore bringing out the deep colors that we see in this year’s foliage. Does anybody else think this year’s colors are especially brilliant?
Update: Kelly commented with a quote from the Wisconsin DNR:
The amount of rain in a year also affects autumn leaf color. A severe drought can delay the arrival of fall colors by a few weeks. A warm, wet period during fall will lower the intensity, or brightness, of autumn colors. A severe frost will kill the leaves, turning them brown and causing them to drop early. The best autumn colors come when there’s been:a warm, wet spring a summer that’s not too hot or dry, and a fall with plenty of warm sunny days and cool nights.
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I am always bragging to people here that Iowa has the most beautiful falls I’ve ever seen. Typically people don’t believe me, or they just roll their eyes at me. BUT, when I when I crossed the Mississippi on my way home for fall break, I proved myself right once again. And, you’re right, I think this was the best one I’ve seen yet. I thoroughly enjoyed this post. I think I could go on forever about how much I love fall…… :)
A little something from the DNR of Wisconsin:
The amount of rain in a year also affects autumn leaf color. A severe drought can delay the arrival of fall colors by a few weeks. A warm, wet period during fall will lower the intensity, or brightness, of autumn colors. A severe frost will kill the leaves, turning them brown and causing them to drop early. The best autumn colors come when there’s been:
a warm, wet spring
a summer that’s not too hot or dry, and
a fall with plenty of warm sunny days and cool nights.
funny that you would post about the extremely beautiful leaves…my dad and i were just talking about this yesterday and how we can’t remember such brilliant fall colors that have lasted so long!