Fall color this week has picked up significantly now that cooler weather has made its way back into the picture. Sugar and Red Maples are starting to have an abundance of color. Soon those will be peaking. I’ve also seen Silver Maple just now starting to join the show turning yellow, Hackberry is also turning yellow. An Oak or two is starting to turn as well. In areas with early to mid changing trees, color is bright and abundant, but there are still large areas of green and even trees turning are not at their brightest yet. Ash trees have lost most of their leaves now and have past peak. Over all I would say here in Des Moines we have Low Color 40% which is a significant increase from last week. We will soon be reaching the moderate color category. I expect that will happen by the middle to end of this week.

 

The fall color report reflects the change in colors across the region. Moderate color has drifted into many parts of Northern Iowa including Mason City and Waterloo. I’ve seen photos of fall color from northeast Iowa lately that has been very nice. If your in northern Iowa now through the next 2 weeks would be the time to start enjoying those colors! In the rest of the state low color remains but even this part of the state will soon be joining the northern part of the state, by this time northern Iowa should have an abundance of color. Peak fall colors can be expected to be moving into parts of the state by as early as next week so leafers in the north be prepared!