Fall color report #2

Fall colors are now just starting to show across much of Southeastern Minnesota with the longer nights and very chilly days we’ve been having. All areas along and North of Interstate 90 are now reporting slight color in earlier changing trees. While the far southern part of the area, including Austin and Harmony remains primarily green, with no color yet being reported. Average peak time is only about 3 to 4 weeks away so I suspect color really begin to show faster in the next few weeks!

Sugar maple starting to turn orange September 19th 2011 West Downtown Rochester.

Here in Rochester I give the area about 10% color chance so far, I’ve started to noticed a few spotty earlier changing trees starting to turn color along city streets. I’ve seen Sugar Maple, and some Ash starting to turn orange and yellow. Burning bushes in yards are also starting to turn reddish-pink. another thing I noticed is quite a few trees are just dropping leaves with little to no color, likely due to stress from dry conditions.

Green trees September 19th 2011

As one can see we will have a very long ways to go, there is still lots of green around. In the yard, trees remain very green at this time. The only color I have noticed is the Ash in the front yard starting to hint at possible color change soon by some slight yellowing and dropping of a few leaves, otherwise it is still mostly green and not impressive at this time.