Late Colors Prompt Climate Change Fears

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2007/oct/20/102004671.html

EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Every fall, Marilyn Krom tries to make a trip to Vermont to see its famously beautiful fall foliage.

This year, she noticed something different about the autumn leaves.

"They're duller, not as sparkly, if you know what I mean," Krom, 62, a registered nurse from Eastford, Conn., said during a recent visit. "They're less vivid."

Other "leaf peepers" are noticing, too, and some believe climate change could be the reason.

<more>

[Warpy]

1. The aspens are changing two weeks later on the peaks

than they did when I first came out to NM on vacation to see if I could stand living here. That's been only 20 years.

[HockeyMom]

2. Daughter in NY

says they have barely changed color at all. Yes, this is very late. Certainly not peak time yet, but they should be well on their way.

From what she tells me, the temps have been above average (70s & 80s). This is probably why. Global warming effect? When my kids were young we always used to go pumpkin picking the week before Halloween on the east end of LI. The leaves had definitely turned by this time. It as always so beautiful and crisp and exhilarating.

I really, really miss all this being in hot as hell Florida. Green, green, green. Ugh!

[marmar]

3. Only now are the colors really beginning to change in SE Michigan....

and they are duller than typical.

[NEOhiodemocrat]

4. northeastern Ohio

Trees are finally starting to change here, look nice and bright though. But I am still waiting for the first frost. My garden is still growing and I am tired of canning. Never before had tomatoes, peppers, green beans and zucchini this late. Picked a bushel of peppers yesterday.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. My halapeno plant is on it's second crop

in October, in Oregon. very weird.

[jpak]

7. It was 71 degrees here in Maine today - even went for a swim - usually unthinkable in Oct.

colors peaked this week - very strange...

[Systematic Chaos]

6. Here in Vegas the leaves on the trees go from green to yellow to brown

and rather quickly.

Years ago they'd have been on their way to brown by this time. This year, most of the trees are still solidly green. Hell, this morning I left for work at 5am and was in shorts and a short sleeve polo shirt. No jacket needed.

[kestrel91316]

11. Same thing in Los Angeles. The native sycamores should be

turning yellow and dropping their leaves by now. It's almost Halloween. They used to start dropping in the heat of September, and sometimes even as early as the end of Angust.

Very weird.

[Subdivisions]

8. I was noticing just yesterday that the trees

have yet to begin to change color here in north Texas. We usually have vibrant colors this time of year and so far the trees are still full and as green as a leprechaun.

[freethought]

9. I'm in Mid-Coast Maine and up here

there are a great many trees which are still, well, green. It is really disconserting having been a born-and-raised New Englander. It's really weird!! The swamp maples have come into color
but sugar maples and some oaks seem to be quite stubborn about changing colors this year.

[Hoverfly]

10. Maybe it's the lack of rain?

Not much rain in Northern New England this year, usually less colorful trees is the end result.