Washingtonians 鈥� and millions of tourists 鈥� are used to flocking to the Tidal Basin to check out the cherry trees in spring.
But come fall, other trees steal the show as their leaves turn crimson, gold and a variety of shades in between.
This year, John Seiler, a professor of forest biology at Virginia Tech, said he expects a fiery display.
鈥淭he forest is in really good shape water-wise. There鈥檚 a lot of moisture in the soil because we鈥檝e gotten so much water here in the last month,鈥� Seiler said.
That鈥檚 a good thing, because a lack of moisture in the soil can stress trees, he explained.
鈥淭hey鈥檒l tend to be a little less vibrant in the red colors, 鈥渁nd the color change can come early.”
Seiler also said that can have another effect: 鈥淭hey鈥檒l tend to drop their leaves a little early.鈥�
While moisture levels in the soil can impact color, other things are in play, too, such as the species of tree in question.
鈥淗ickories are going to turn yellow,鈥� said Seiler. Meanwhile, scarlet oaks are going to be, as the name might suggest, scarlet.
Along with rainfall, light plays a role in the development of fall colors. Seiler explains that if you were to take an index card and block the leaf of a tree that normally turns red, it won鈥檛 change color: 鈥淭hey only produce red when there鈥檚 bright, bright light,鈥� he said.
West Virginia and Maryland see their share of leaf peepers flock to the forests to enjoy fall colors, and Seiler says the size and health of Virginia鈥檚 forests mean you don鈥檛 have to go far to enjoy fall colors.
鈥淰irginia is still over 60% forested,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 actually higher than back in the 1950s.鈥�
The biodiversity in Virginia鈥檚 forests also helps ensure that fall colors won鈥檛 disappoint. Even with the threat of emerald ash borers, the commonwealth鈥檚 forests remain healthy.
鈥淚f we had some new disease that came in and decimated oaks 鈥� the majority of trees in Virginia 鈥� that would be a different story,” Seiler said.
Asked if he had his own favorite location to enjoy fall foliage, Seiler told 草莓传媒, 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to have a favorite spot … you can travel in almost any direction and you can find good fall color because we鈥檙e in the mountains.”
It鈥檚 likely this year’s autumn leaves will be at their peak from mid- to late October.
You can find more information on leaf-peeping in both and online.
