First Day of Fall Brings Good News for Leaf Season
Foliage experts report favorable conditions for vibrant color in the Blue Ridge Mountains
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 22, 2008) – The first official day of fall has arrived. Late summer rains and a cooling weather pattern trigger expert forecasts that fall 2008 could produce the most colorful leaf season in years in Western North Carolina (WNC).
“I think it (fall) will be better than the past couple of years, but the next few weeks will be important. The cooling trend we are now experiencing is a good start. If this is followed by a light frost, we could be looking at some nice fall foliage this year,” said Dr. Gary Walker, a biology professor at Appalachian State University.
“Recent rains will help keep the leaves on the trees and extend the fall color season,” said Dr. Kathy Gould Mathews, assistant biology professor at Western Carolina University. “We should hope for a rapid cooling of temperatures in late September into October for the best fall color show. Normally, the peak color occurs within a week after the first frost.”
“I think fall color in WNC is among the best fall color shows anywhere in the world! There are very few places you can go to see better fall color than the Appalachian Mountains,” said Jesse Pope, lead naturalist at Grandfather Mountain. “The diversity of tree and shrub species here in WNC help make our fall color so varied.”
“Year in and year out, the maples (neon red, orange, and yellow), oaks (red, yellow, rusty brown), sourwood (red), black gum (maroon), beech (gold), birches (yellow/gold), ashe (yellow), cottonwood (yellow), buckeye (yellow, rusty gold), among many other species really put on a show,” said Pope.
ABOUT
With elevations that range from 1,500 feet in the valleys to 6,684 feet at Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, the Asheville area is a fall leaf kaleidoscope from late September through early November as the foliage color beginning at the highest elevations slowly creeps down the mountainsides. Color hunters hoping to find the perfect “peak” time for fall foliage are surprised to learn that Western North Carolina boasts one of the most extended fall foliage seasons in the nation due to varying elevations, microclimates and nearly 100 species of deciduous trees.
ONLINE RESOURCES
- Weekly Fall Color Reports: To help visitors locate the perfect autumn vista, weekly fall color reports for the mountains of Western North Carolina are posted by the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau at FallintheMountains.com and a toll-free hotline (800-257-1300). Starting today, leaf color reports will direct visitors to the best fall fireworks from week to week, using advice from Blue Ridge Parkway, U.S. Forest Service officials and a cadre of foliage experts throughout the region.
FALL STORY IDEAS: More info at FallintheMountains.com
- Budget-Friendly Fall: Save some green while hunting for the red, yellow and orange. Wallet-friendly itineraries, gas promotions, coupons and insider savings tips
- Color Hunters vs. Leaf Peepers: Intense fall adventures from extreme to mellow (ranked & rated online)
- Unique Aerial Views of Fall Foliage: Roof-top tours, hot air balloons, rock climbing, helicopter rides and other birds-eye views of fall color
- Fall Harvest: Seasonal farm-to-table cuisine and harvest celebrations
- Eco-Friendly Autumn: Tips for greener fall adventures – green tours, sustainable souvenirs, park-the-car-adventures
For more information, contact Dodie Stephens at dstephens@exploreasheville.com.
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