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Each fall, with a comforting rhythm, the mountains light up with a brilliance that, no matter how many times people see it, is new and refreshing each time, as if it�s the first time. Fall�s crisp, sunny days and invigorating breezes are just as promising now as any year in the past. WNC is currently ablaze with color in the middle elevations, and lower elevations, so if you have not had a chance to catch this year's fall color show, you still have an opportunity to do so this week.Fall colors are peaking in the Asheville and Hendersonville areas (middle elevation levels, 2,000 - 3,500 feet), where trees have been showing brilliant paletts of reds and golds. Red maples are displaying their full array of colors at the Biltmore Estate and along Blue Ridge Parkway, while the Hickory Nut Gorge (lower elevation, 1,000 feet) is just beginning to show its brilliant fall colors. A fall folliage color peak will be found throughout this week in middle elevations such as Hot Springs, and Maggie Valley, while peak colors are slightly past their prime in the higher elevations (3,500-5,00 ft.) along the Blue Ridge Parkway, to the north and south of Asheville. Fall travelers might still enjoy the drive up to Graveyard Fields or Mt. Pisgah for a color show until reaching the highest elevations.
October brings the riot of fall color to the mountains. Our cool nights and moist climate bring out more intense leaf color in trees and shrubs than you'll find at the lower elevations. Gardeners in western North Carolina can take advantage of this good fortune by selecting some plants for the landscape to replace the flower color of summer with the leaf color of fall. Trees:
Shrubs:
What do naturalists and scientists use to predict a color season? While nothing is absolutely certain in nature, the timing of cold nights and the amount of summer and early fall rains are generally good indicators of what kind of color season is in store each year. As the color season continues, winds become an important factor, as high winds and mountain storms can shorten the season by stripping the leaves from trees. For those who are looking for a great meal � and a breathtaking view � the Pisgah Inn (Milepost 408.6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, 828-235-8228) should top the list of Places to Go. They don�t take reservations, so be prepared to wait, but the wait is painless, given the unobstructed view from the rear of the building (there is a deck with easy access to the restaurant). The inn also has a good number of rooms, but they are hard to come by for anyone who didn�t think of lining one up a long time ago. Some excellent books on the subject can be found, either locally at area bookstores, or on the Internet. A couple of good suggestions include �A Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of the Southern Appalachians� by Robert E. Swanson, and �Fall Color Finder: A Pocket Guide to Autumn Leaves� by C. Ritchie Bell and Anne H. Lindsey. Many other good titles are available throughout Western North Carolina. As we progress through the color season, Hendersonville.com will provide area information about the best sites for enjoying the season. Another good resource is the National Forest Service Fall Foliage Hotline at 800-354-4595 or www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/press/fall. (Top photo provided by Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway)
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More than a million people visit the Blue Ridge Parkway each color season to enjoy the natural beauty of the mountains. But exactly what is it that we are all looking at � what types of trees produce these luminous colors that we find so appealing? While the display normally continues for many weeks from September through late October or early November, the first trees to give us a glimpse of what is to come are the dogwoods, maples, hickories and poplars. These different species offer all shades of red, orange and gold. Generally after the first frost, the oak trees get involved. Dogwood, sweet gum, sourwood, black gum, many types of oak and some varieties of sumac turn brilliant shades of red. Birch, beech, sassafras, redbud, tulip poplar, hickory, black walnut, willow, chestnut, ash and aspen trees contribute the shades of yellow, and most of the gold and orange is provided by the cherry, black oak, laurel, serviceberry, and varying types of maple. 