Color slowly starting
 

It's starting here, but just a little. As we gaze over the mountains, we're starting to see that odd change from the usual summer dark green to sort of a burnished look, and a few leaves are changing on scattered trees here and there.

Seems early, but we'll see.

It started around here, in the northern part of the state, around ten days ago. But
there hasn't been much change in the last week. You just never know whats going to happen. Bright colors so far.

Northern Michigan has already started too, but after 5 solid days of rain, I hope it slows down a little. I have a vacation starting Oct. 5th up north and I want to see some color!

here in New Hampshire all indications point to a good year for color. It also seems a little earlier than normal.

Here in Buffalo I've seen trees completely changed.

This is really early. I wish it would slow down a bit......I love to take a drive into the countryside on a nice, warm October Sunday to look at the trees. Right now we're in the middle of a cool, rainy September!

Color has arrived very early here in central CT. I've seen several maples with deep reds and oranges already, but on one side or section of the tree only. Still early. And leaves falling already. Must have been the wet spring...and wet late summer. I have a feeling it will peak early, and go quickly, this year.

Chautauqua has started, too. It really seems so early! I hope winter isn't too loooonnnnngggggg!!!

Well it can't be a worst foliage than last year. I've already seen mored reds this year than all of lasy year.

Curious: when the color changes early, does that mean you get a longer or colder winter than usual? More snow than usual? Or no bearing on winter whatsoever?

Foliage is a reflection of the weather conditions of the PAST few months, not the next few!

Color is starting here in NW Wisconsin as well. I've noticed some of the maple trees that turn the prettiest red are starting to change as well as the trees that have the yellows. Fall is definitely in the air! We're going to Bayfield the last weekend of September so hopefully the colors will be wonderful this year:)

Stellablue; you are lucky some maples are turning brilliant colors - the problem this year was our soggy spring in some of the northeast - it caused a funghi that hit mostly the maples and norway maples - which is why some of us (in Mass) were looking at brown, dried up leaves in our garden as early as a month ago - they turned brown and fell off - which might explain why some of your maples have color only on one side.

Add to that funghi defoliation some moth problems and some trees won't be as vibrant, or fully vibrant as they can be when spring is less wet.

I am experiencing here south of Boston what you mention/ trees turning only in spots, some defoliation already and am still hoping we will have some beautiful colors - some years are better than others - but any color is magnificent !

I agree with you though, I think it is going to be an early 'peak', whatever that peak might be. but that too depends on the night weather/day weather we will have to wait and see.....

My daughter will be getting married on a hilltop in northern Vermont overlooking mountains and the foliage in mid/Oct. I hope we still have something pretty to look at.

No changes here in IL yet, but please someone, give us a oar. We have some communities under water. We have had WAY too much rain.

I know about the temperature changes at night restricting the sap to leaves process- but DOES this standing water etc. reflect too??

It will be interesting to see. I think we are rotting out more than "coloring". LOL!

So many poor people in IN as well, they are in a HORRIBLE mess. They got 5 to 6 inches of rain in two to three hours- are using boats in their own backyards.

Here in Park City, UT, our scrub oak is orange and the maples are red! Beautiful!

The aspens are not turning yet, but will probably really take off after tonight. It's supposed to get down into the 20's tonight. Our first freeze. Goodbye, my pretty potted annuals....

All New England winters are incredibly cold, snowy and icy. We still have a wood cookstove for when the power goes out and both of us drive 4 wheel drive vehicles. (It may have been stupid to have an uphill driveway with a 180 turn.) If we still had snowmobiles we could go all the way to Canada which a neighbor does once a year. It's really a terrible place to live so nobody else should move here. If it's too warm to snow, it's either muddy or the black flies and mosquitos will carry you away. But the good thing about snow is it gives the road agent a chance to level out the road and fill in some of the pot holes with packed snow. And, we're in the 10% minority who lives more than 10 miles from a WalMart. But "It Could be Worse" (nod to Rebecca Rule) And I could have told them that homework was a waste of time but the good thing about schools in our area is with the new block scheduling (longer classes) there's time to go fishing during study hall.

I just booked my Mom a week in Maine for her birthday 10/7-10/14. According to Yankee Magazine's foliage predictor(http://tinyurl.com/o64pc)
colors should be about at peak during that time. I know that it is not always perfectly accurate, but she's very happy :). I just wish I could join her. :(

Just want to say that in IL and most of the Midwest around us, the color is vibrant right now. The ash in front of my house are deep purple and there are lots of totally yellow oaks. The sunset Maple is not yet at peak, but just days away.

Will let you know about mid MI next week. I hope it is glorious. We have had way, way too much rain for Fall- so we shall see.

I'm in Northern Illinois. The leaves are changing early and fast this year.
Usually don't get much color until the middle of October, but full color started this week, I would say peak would be next week.
I'm going to Northern Wisconsin this weekend, was hoping for peak up there, but it may be past peak already.

I just drove from Grand Haven, Mi to Indiana and there is ALOT of color in Michigan already! I was Tom Skelling on WGN (chicago) and he mentioned that the early color is due to the overcast skies and rain (no sun, lots of rain).