Tree leaves turning to bright shades of golden yellow, burnt orange and radiant red are the telltale signs of autumn’s arrival.
For those of you who eagerly await crisp temperatures and falling leaves, you’ll be happy to learn that vibrant fall foliage has already started painting Delaware’s landscape.
Although leaves begin turning at different points every year, they usually peak in late September and October, an event that is dependent on sun exposure during the day and cool temperatures at night.
Here in Delaware, trees have already begun letting their colors shine.
“We’re seeing a little bit of premature leaf color change and drop, due to the fact that we had a pretty significant drought at the end of the summer. That would cause the process to start sooner,” said Susan Barton, a professor of plant and soil sciences at the University of Delaware.
According to Barton, leaf colors typically continue to change until early November, but the sunnier the days and the cooler the nights, the better leaf color will be and the longer they will last before falling.
Despite the current presence of changing leaf colors across the state, the warm hues painting local treescapes could easily fade to brown and flutter to the ground if Delaware receives too much or too little rain in the coming weeks.
The key to vibrant fall foliage is balanced exposure to rain, sun and wind, but no one can truly predict what each season’s outcome will be, especially if seasonal storms unexpectedly bring violent wind and rain, Barton said.
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Why leaves change colors
The reason leaves change from green to various rainbow shades is because the chlorophyll within each leaf begins to go away.
When the chlorophyll is removed from the leaf, the amount of sun, wind and rain can bring out other colors within the leaf, Barton said.
This is also why different tree species may experience leaf drop in different phases or have leaves turn colors differently from others in the area.
What leaf colors are dominant in Delaware
In Newark, gingko trees are a common sight. They are native to China and are the last living species in a lineage that traces back over 290 million years ago.
Sweet gum trees are native species all around the state, and you might know them for the spiky gum balls they’re known to drop everywhere.
Sweet gums also have star-shaped foliage that turns yellow, purple and red once fall hits as opposed to a single color like most trees. This species can be found around the Newark Free Library.
Barton also recommends local parks or highways as great places to see a variety of changing leaf colors.
Some of her favorite areas include driving on I-95 between Newark and Wilmington, walking through White Clay Creek near the University of Delaware campus and driving on Route 1 between Smyrna and Dover.
Favorite places to see fall foliage
Lums Pond State Park, near Glasgow
Lums Pond State Park is a 1,790-acre site near Glasgow that is home to the state’s largest freshwater pond.
They have many trails to travel through, a GoApe aerial ropes course that allows you to swing through trees and water activities such as kayaking and canoeing, all of which can be used to view changing leaves.
The park also offers fall-themed hikes and other seasonal events like hayrides and bonfires.
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, near Smyrna
Established in 1937, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Smyrna is one of the largest remaining expanses of tidal salt marsh in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The site offers an auto tour of fall foliage with a glimpse of changing tidal marsh grasses, too.
As a refuge directly in the path of the Atlantic Flyway, a visit here will also grant you a sneak peek at migrating birds. Other wildlife on-site include bald eagles, white-tailed deer and the northern diamondback terrapin.
Ashland Nature Center, near Hockessin
Ashland Nature Center is home to the Delaware Nature Society’s headquarters and has 130 acres of marsh, meadows, Red Clay Creek and woodlands.
The center is open year-round, has an overnight lodge and a picnic area, features 4 miles of pet-friendly nature trails and holds a variety of wildlife-viewing activities.
Redden State Forest, near Georgetown
In Georgetown, Redden State Forest has over 12,900 acres to explore that are filled with a mix of hardwood trees including oak trees, maple trees and gum trees.
With over 44 miles of trails, the forest features 18 tracts that are ideal for an afternoon spent hiking, a scenic bike ride, bird watching in the morning or a weekend of horseback riding.
Mt. Cuba Center, near Hockessin
Mt. Cuba Center is a botanical garden near Hockessin that is filled with a variety of nature opportunities.
Visitors can enjoy a scenic view of the Brandywine Valley, picnic on the lawn or in a cozy hideaway throughout the garden or enroll in fall photography stroll, among other offerings.
The center is also home to native plant gardens and provides classes on the conversation of native plants and their habitats.
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