Turning over new leaves

Fall foliage display likely to be brief

By GINA KINSLOW

GLASGOW — Kentucky is expected to have a colorful fall, despite dry conditions across the state.

It’s not how much rain an area receives that determines whether or not leaves will be colorful or turn brown and fall off.

“The rule is when you have sunny days and cool nights you have a relatively colorful fall and that’s what we’ve had,” said Doug McLaren, a forestry specialist with the University of Kentucky. “We’ve had clear skies every day for a month and relatively cool nights. The rule says we’re going to have a colorful fall, even though it’s been so dry.”

The question is how intense will the color be this year.

“Some years, especially last year, it was a tad bit duller, but there was color,” McLaren said.

Leaves on some trees, vines and bushes have already started to change.

“Your sumac is turning red already. Black gum is also another red one that is turning right now,” he said. “You’re going to get your yellow from yellow poplar.”

The peak time for viewing fall colors across the state will be the first and second weeks of October.

It is the amount of sunlight that triggers the onset of fall color.

Shorter days prompt the growth of a layer of cork cells at the base of each leaf which seals the leaf off from the tree, restricting the flow of water and minerals into the leaf.

“Because the leaves have sealed off from the branch for the winter, none of the sugars get to the tree roots,” McLaren said, and the tree stops producing chlorophyll, the green pigment that gives leaves their color in the spring and summer. “As chlorophyll dies, it no longer masks other pigments present in the leaf and emerald transforms to crimson or saffron.”

Leaves are just beginning to turn in some parts of the state, while other areas are still very green.

According to the Kentucky Department of Travel, Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill is starting to see approximately 20 percent color change in fall foliage with tulip poplars and black walnuts showing some yellow and poison ivy and black gum leaves turning red.

But at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Corbin, there is basically no change in leaf color yet.

At Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park in Burkesville there is about a 5 percent change and officials with the state park are reporting that leaves are changing earlier this year than last year.

Officials with Mammoth Cave National Park are reporting “a hint of fall color.”

Black gum makes up a small percentage of the woods and features bright red leaves in the fall. Dogwoods and poison ivy leaves are also beginning to turn red.

“Right now there are some pretty places along the road to see fall color, but things are changing quickly,” said Vickie Carson, public information officer for Mammoth Cave National Park. “I think this weekend will be good and probably the following weekend will be good to see fall color.”

Some areas of the national park that are better for viewing fall color, she said. Sunset Point, which is at the end of the trail that runs behind Mammoth Cave Hotel, and the Green River Bluff Trail are good spots.

Carson suggested taking a drive down the Green River Road, which leads to the ferry that crosses the Green River.

“Both the north and south sides are pretty drives,” she said.

As for the western portion of the state, officials with the Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park in Dawson Springs say it appears fall has come early there and some leaves, specifically maple tree leaves, have already begun to fall.

The Kentucky Department of Travel will be updating the fall color on its Web site throughout the season.

For more information, visit the Kentucky Department of Travel’s Web site at www.kytourism.com/colorfall/default.htm