Fall Colors May Be Dimmer This Year

For many people, fall is an enjoyable time of year because of the changing of the leaves.

Southeast Ohio is known for its array of colors. There’s plenty of red’s with the dogwoods, orange’s and yellow’s with the maple trees, and purple’s with the ash trees, But summer’s heat and the dry weather may spoil the event this year.

"I think we’ll have some subdues colors. We’ll still have some decent colors, but maybe not those vivid or vibrant colors that we’re used to in mid-October, " says Mark Mechling of the OSU Extension Program.

These conditions may even push the peak of the leaf changing season to the end of september, but Mechling says that all could change if we just received some soaking rain.

"The moisture obviously is key in terms of development of the plant processes to continue to occur in the plant. Photosynthesis requires moisture as well as transpiration, " says Mechling.

If you’re a leaf changing enthusiast, Mechling says some of the best places to see the colors are at our state parks, including Dillon, Blue Rock, and Burr Oak.