The Belt Team posted: " With only a few weeks of summer left, it's time to start planning your leaf-peeping for the year! If you are a fan of fall like we are, you'll be excited to know that SmokyMountains.com has released it's annual interactive fall foliage prediction ma"
With only a few weeks of summer left, it's time to start planning your leaf-peeping for the year! If you are a fan of fall like we are, you'll be excited to know that SmokyMountains.com has released it's annual interactive fall foliage prediction map!
"The 2021 Fall Foliage Map is the ultimate visual planning guide to the annual progressive changing of the leaves. While no tool can be 100% accurate, this tool is meant to help travelers better time their trips to have the best opportunity of catching peak color each year."
And there is something new this year. According to TravelandLeisure.com, Smokymountains.com will publish a mid-season update to their prediction map for those areas that are known to peak later. This update will be live sometime in mid-September.
According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia generally peaks between October 10th and 31st but can vary year to year based on things like temperatures, rain, wind, etc. As seen on the map below, the week of October 18th is predicted to be peak for much of Virginia this year.
And...head over to the Virginia.org's travel blog to see many more options for leaf viewing throughout the state!
Some fun facts about autumn leaves:
Why do leaves change their color? Both chlorophyll and carotenoids are present in the chloroplasts of leaf cells throughout the growing season. During this time, chlorophyll is produced and broken down, and leaves appear green. As days get shorter, chlorophyll production slows down until it stops. The green color is no longer visible, and other pigments present (carotenoids) with the chlorophyll are then revealed. During autumn, bright light and excess plant sugars produce anthocyanins within leaf cells.
Why do leaves fall? In order to cope with the harsh winter temperatures, trees slowly close off the veins that carry water and nutrients to and from the leaves with a layer of new cells that form at the base of the leaf stem, protecting the limbs and body of the tree. Once this process is done, water and nutrients no longer flow to and from the leaf enabling the leaf to die and weaken at the stem, eventually falling gracefully to the ground.
What happens to fallen leaves? When leaves fall to the ground, they begin to break down and eventually create a rich humus on the forest floor that absorbs dew and rainfall. This nutrient rich 'sponge' acts as a continual source of nutrients and water for trees and plants, helping to promote life and plant health in the next spring season.
Additional resources:
Fall Foliage Report – (800)424-LOVE (begins mid-late September each year)
WordPress.com
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