Missouri’s fall color season will be a mixture of brilliant and blah.
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Foresters with the Missouri Department of Conservation predict a mixed bag of color due to differences in rainfall around the state.
Fall color will be duller than usual in drought-stricken areas and vivid in areas that received near normal rainfall, according to conservation Department Forestry Education Coordinator Bruce Palmer. He suggests going to eastern and northern Missouri to see the most brilliant color.
“Adequate rainfall in the north, east-central and southeast regions of the state prevented trees from being stressed by the summer heat,” Palmer says. “We expect very vivid color in those areas. The river hills along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers are excellent places to view fall color.” Do not expect much of a color display in Missouri’s western, southwestern and south-central regions. Extreme heat and little rainfall already have caused leaves on some trees to turn brown and fall earlier than normal.
The peak of fall color in Missouri usually occurs the second and third weeks of October. In dry years, trees often drop leaves early to prevent moisture loss. More rain could help reduce the drought stress and extend the fall color season.
The change of season triggers leaf color changes. Cooler temperatures stop the production of chlorophyll, the green substance in leaves. As chlorophyll fades, underlying yellow and orange pigments become visible. Cooler temperatures also prevent the food produced in leaves from moving into the rest of the tree. The trapped sugars turn leaves red or purple.
Get a copy of the “Missouri’s Season of Splendor” poster for an in-depth explanation of why leaves change color and information about where to see fall color. To receive a free poster by mail write to: Missouri Department of Conservation, Distribution Center, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.
The “Fall Colors of Missouri” brochure includes a map of scenic drives and information about public lands with hiking trails through scenic areas. The brochure is available at conservation nature centers and Conservation Department offices statewide.
Information on the peak of fall color is available on the Conservation Department website at www.missouriconservation.org. Use the keyword “fallcolor” to access the information.