Fall color report 3 September 24th 2012

Fall color is beginning to get a bit of a boast across our area. Color is really starting to increase as the days continue to get much shorter and the sun angle lowers. Now, all areas accept for the southeast is reporting low color. Trees like Ashes, Maples, Sumac, area really showing plenty of color currently. Yellow, Orange and Red can all be seen. Shrubs like Dogwood and Burning bushes also also showing signs of maroon and fiery red color. For a map of colors across the rest of Minnesota see the Minnesota DNR website

Sugar Maple September 24th 2012

Around Rochester I’ve mostly noticed Sugar Maple and Ash trees turning the most. The ash tree in the front yard is really starting to turn yellow at a fast rate. I’ve seen a few neighborhood burning bushes turning red as well, but when I look across the landscape, the primary color is green.

Asters  in full bloom September 24th 2012

One thing for sure is fall color in blooming flowers are peaking right now. This is a relatively new plant for me, I got this plant originally from Wisconsin last year. I really this perennial because of the very showy flowers fairly late in the season. These are among the last flowers to bloom in the Upper Midwest. They are a little earlier then normal this year due to a warm spring, typically you would see them blooming in mid October. They have really proved to be a great addition to the garden, and because there late season flowers there are hardy to frosts and cold!