Anyone care to speculate about what the colors might be like this year?

I was talking to someone this morning who has a friend living by International Falls and they claimed that all the leaves have already fallen there because of drought stress. So that made me wonder how things were looking in the Arrowhead.

I'll find out later next week, but with drought stress there is rarely a good display.

Come anyway. There is plenty to see and do, especially on the shore.

In grand Marais and there is an occasional tree with some color on it already

NEIowapaddler: "Anyone care to speculate about what the colors might be like this year?

I was talking to someone this morning who has a friend living by International Falls and they claimed that all the leaves have already fallen there because of drought stress. "

Well that is not the case lol.

We have had a terrible drought this year but rain has been coming steady lately so there is hope. Your friend up in the falls might also be seeing all the ash trees dying from the emerald ash borer. I have a lot of dying ash. Not drought related.

I think we will have good fall colors this year. The rains have been helping the trees.

Tom

inspector13: "
I'll find out later next week, but with drought stress there is rarely a good display.


"

I've heard that before, and it's strange to me because it's just the opposite here. Drought years almost always result in above-average colors. Wet years mean poor color. Wonder what the difference is.

I'm in Duluth. One of our neighborhood maples is blazing red. Just one, though.

NEIowapaddler: "

inspector13: "
I'll find out later next week, but with drought stress there is rarely a good display.



"

I've heard that before, and it's strange to me because it's just the opposite here. Drought years almost always result in above-average colors. Wet years mean poor color. Wonder what the difference is. "

Interesting. I was under the impression that late summer/early fall moisture correlates to leaf color vividness. More water = more vivid colors; less moisture - dull colors early leaf drop. Hmm.

In Ely now, still lots of green but some color out there. Particularly maples.

Drive the Echo trail today. This is where I saw the color. I did run into where the fire crossed the road. I expected more devastation but it seemed more like an understory fire.

The drought in mid Minnesota is showing alot of leaf drop with little color change. I have yet to see what is happening in the Arrowhead region, but I have no expectations for good pictures.

I live in NW Illinois. Seen my 1st cluster of orange leafs on my maples yday.

NEIowapaddler: "Anyone care to speculate about what the colors might be like this year?"

I like to speculate with this website each year.

https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map

There is only a slight blush of color starting on a couple of the Sugar Maples at my property just south of the SNF off Lake County Highway 2.

The change looks like it will be happening a week or so later than average.

inspector13: "
There is only a slight blush of color starting on a couple of the Sugar Maples at my property just south of the SNF off Lake County Highway 2.

The change looks like it will be happening a week or so later than average.

"

Thanks for the update! I've been trying to decide between the last week of September or the first week of October. Sounds like later might be a good bet at this point.