It won’t be long until autumn officially begins. You can already feel the crispness in the air. You might even notice a little nip that hints at autumn's soon return. Cooler weather causes the leaves to change throughout the country. It also encourages people to plan trips to enjoy nature’s beauty.
In many areas, you can find people who will set aside a day or even a whole weekend to drive around to see the beautiful colors that will splash across the landscape. Brilliant yellows and oranges contrast against the reds, browns, and evergreens in a cascade of opulence that can’t be equaled in the finest paintings. Take a camera on your trip and share the beauty with those not fortunate enough to be able to go along.
Leaves change colors because of the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves. In the spring and summer, there is a lot of chlorophyll. In the fall, the chlorophyll moves into the rest of the tree. This movement, along with the amount of rain, sugar in the leaves, and the temperatures during the summer also help determine what color the leaves will turn.
The biggest determinant of what color the leaves will be is the type of tree. Birch, elm, ash, poplar, willow, and some maple tree leaves will turn yellow. Some oaks, some maples, sumac, and tupelo tree leaves will become red. Orange leaves may be found on some oaks and maples. Sugar maple, dogwood, sweet gum, and sourwood trees will produce either red or yellow leaves.
When planning your trip, whether for a day or a weekend, give yourself a little bit of leeway. Leaves won’t change on a specific date each year, so allow yourself a period of a week or so to take the trip.
New England is one of the most popular destinations for viewing the fall foliage. In fact, the end of September and beginning of October are wonderful weeks to make your trip. If you’re planning a weekend jaunt, make reservations as early as possible, or avoid the need of accommodations, by planning a day trip instead.
If you live close to other areas of the country, you can enjoy the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in early October. The Rocky Mountains normally also have their peak viewing times around the beginning of October. If you live in Oregon, you can wait until early November to plan your trip. Are you in the South? Plan a trip through the Ozarks or take a trip to Alabama during October and November.
Check the weather reports in your area to find out when the peak viewing times will be or contact the USDA Forest Service. They should have information to tell you when the peak viewing times are in each state. With a little bit of planning, you will soon be enjoying all of nature’s colorful beauty.
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