Unseasonably warm weather put fall colors weeks behind schedule this year, with many trees still sporting green as October comes to a close.
Brown County’s legendary fall foliage is showing signs of its arrival, however. Visitors can check on progress daily by visiting the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s webcam at browncounty.com/leaf-cam
And when the brilliant yellows, oranges and reds arrive in earnest, here’s help to enjoy the sights, sound, and smells of the season in Brown County, courtesy of an Interpretive Naturalist ready to field your fall foliage questions.
When is the best time to see the leaves? When do they peak?
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Typically the second and third week of October are the peak times, but leaves can change their color into November.
Where are the best places to see the leaves?
The beautiful leaves can be seen all around, but great views can be found on a drive through the Brown County State Park. The vistas provide an elevated view that lets you see the wide array of trees and colors.
Why do trees change colors?
The response of trees to fall color is due to cooler nights with decreasing temperatures and the shorter photo-period (or daylight). All leaves have different types of chemicals in them that dictate their pigment and coloring. One of these chemicals, chlorophyll, is responsible for absorbing sunlight and gives leaves their green color. As daylight dwindles, chlorophyll production, which masks other color pigments in the leaf, shuts off. Once this happens, the various other color pigments are able to show through and you see leaves change colors.
Do certain types of trees produce specific colored leaves?
» Oaks: brown or russet
» Hickory: golden bronze
» Dogwood: purple-red
» Birch: bright yellow
» Poplar: golden yellow
» Sassafras: orange
» Tupelo: red
» Sugar Maple: orange-red
» Black Maple: glowing yellow
» Red Maple: bright scarlet
» Silver Maple: muted green
What kind of trees change colors first? Which trees are the last to change?
Tulip Poplar trees are by far the first. Sycamores and Walnut are usually the next to change, but they do not show much color in general. Oak and Beech trees are the last to change and can retain some of their leaves through winter.
What impact will this year’s weather have on fall colors?
Weather plays a major role in the change of leaves each year, so as the weather is always changing the time of the year the leaves change varies, too.
What makes the leaves fall?
Leaves fall to prevent the tree from dying. During the warmer months, trees get rid of excess water obtained from rain and moist soil through their leaves. However, in the fall as temperatures decrease, trees shed their leaves so the tree itself can retain water before the drying winter winds begin and the ground freezes over and little water can be obtained through the roots. Basically, the tree seals itself shut so it can save up as much water as possible to survive winter.
What kind of Maple trees are found in Brown County and what are they like during the fall season?
There are four kinds of maple trees in Brown County: Sugar, Silver, Red and Black. All of them produce the sugar water that can be boiled down into sap. The Sugar Maple is the one that gives New England its flooding of fall tourists, and it can be found in Brown County, too. There are not quite the weather extremes (warm days and cold nights) in the Midwest as there are in New England, which is what gives the Sugar Maple its brilliant show of colors, but there is still great color in the maples in Brown County.
Where can I go to learn more about the leaves in Brown County?
A great place to learn more about fall foliage is at the Nature Center at the Brown County State Park. There are a variety of programs and opportunities available, which are all free and all related to some aspect of fall.
Source: Brown County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Nashville
