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Sep
21
Written by:
news editor
9/21/2011 1:00 AM
Ohio’s woodlands and landscapes are still predominantly green; but with the continued good weather the fall color season should be great.
ODNR Fall Foliage Update #1 - September 21
COLUMBUS, OH – As the calendar ushers in autumn this Friday, Ohio’s woodlands and landscapes are still predominantly green; but with the continued good weather the fall color season should be great, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
“Overall the weather in September has been good with lots of sunny days and the evenings are beginning to cool,” said Casey Burdick, ODNR Division of Forestry. “The cooler nights should enhance the onset of good fall color and add more variety to the landscape in the coming weeks.”
Buckeye trees are beginning to show shades of golds and russets, as they are one of the first to get their leaves in the spring and the first to lose them in the fall. The thorny husks are starting to break open and the nuts are falling to the ground, so now is the best time to collect buckeyes. “You will have the most success in your search for buckeyes in wet areas, especially on flood plains or stream sides,” said Burdick.
Other early changers include black gum and Virginia creeper, which turn bright red. Your best chance of finding black gum is in the unglaciated parts of the state. Virginia creeper can be found throughout the state, usually along the edges of the woods, trails or in fence rows. These will wait until the end of September or early October to come into their peak color.
The scenic landscape is a special invitation to head outdoors. Some will choose to take part in outdoor traditions such as dove or squirrel hunting while others will enjoy seasonal campouts and events at Ohio state parks and nature preserves. And for the avid hunter, don’t forget that archery season for deer starts Saturday, September 24.
This coming weekend, check out one of the following events at one of your Ohio State Parks…
Halloween Festival #1, Hueston Woods (SW) - Sept. 23-24. Kick off the season with campsite decorating, games, a haunted trail & Halloween treats. All reservable campsites are booked for this event; however, a limited number of non-reservable campsites are available on a first-come first served basis. Check campsite availability at www.ohiostateparks.org. For more information about the event, call (513) 523-6347.
Fall Festival, Indian Lake (NW) - Sept. 23-25. Enjoy fall-themed crafts and games, along with pony rides, archery & a hot air balloon lift-off. All reservable campsites are booked for this event; however, a limited number of non-reservable campsites are available on a first-come first served basis. Check campsite availability at www.ohiostateparks.org. For more information about the event, call (937) 843-2717 or (937) 843-3553.
Feather & Foliage Festival, Kelleys Island (NW) - Sept. 24, 8 AM - 4:30 PM. Explore the island’s flora and fauna with guided hikes & bird banding activities. For more information about the event, call (419) 746-2258 or e-mail information@kelleysislandnature.com.
Ohio Heritage Days, Malabar Farm (NE) - Sept. 24-25, 10-4 PM daily. Browse and shop among 75 traditional crafters, see the impressive collection of antique tractors & enjoy living history demonstrations. All park visitors are invited to a traditional barn dance on Saturday, 7-10 p.m. This is the 35th annual event. For more information about the event, call (419) 892-2784.
Outdoor Adventure Weekend, Pike Lake (SW) - Sept. 24-25. Get active in the outdoors and have fun camping. canoeing, fishing, and disc golfing. A hunter education course is also offered; participants must register for hunter ed. For more information about the event, call (740) 493-2212.
Remembering Euclid Beach Park, Cleveland Lakefront (NE) - Sept. 25, 1-5 PM at Euclid Beach. Reminisce about Euclid Beach in its glory days amid attractions and exhibits salvaged from the popular historic amusement park. For more information about the event, call (216) 881-8141 x3001.
The ODNR fall color Web page is the premier guide to Ohio’s fall color season, posting weekly color updates and information to help plan leaf-peeping adventures. Weekly videos from Fall Color Forester Casey Burdick will highlight color hot spots around the state and provide informative tidbits about some of Ohio’s 100-plus tree species. This page also offers helpful links for leaf collecting tips, scenic road trips, and more. Looking for some great fall getaway ideas? The Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism has numerous itinerary ideas at www.discoverohio.com under their Autumn Adventures feature.
Ohio's 75 state parks, 21 state forests and 134 state nature preserves provide excellent locations to view fall foliage. Here are the most current reports from selected locations:
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Location
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Region
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Color Condition
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Alum Creek/Delaware/Mt. Gilead
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Central
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Changing
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Beaver Creek/Guilford Lake
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East
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Changing
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Blue Rock/Dillon
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East
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Changing
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Buck Creek
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West
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Changing
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Burr Oak
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Southeast
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Changing
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Caesar Creek
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Southwest
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Changing
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Deer Creek
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Central
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Changing
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Harrison Lake
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Northwest
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Changing
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Hocking Hills
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Southeast
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Changing
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Hueston Woods
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Southwest
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Changing
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Indian Lake
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West
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Changing
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John Bryan
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West
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Changing
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Lake Hope
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Southeast
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Changing
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Malabar Farm
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Northeast
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Changing
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Mary Jane Thurston/Van Buren
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Northeast
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Changing
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Mohican
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Northeast
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Changing
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Paint Creek/Pike Lake
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Southwest
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Changing
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Punderson
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Northeast
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Changing
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Salt Fork
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Southeast
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Changing
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Shawnee
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Southwest
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Changing
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Sycamore
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West
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Changing
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Tar Hollow
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Southeast
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Changing
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Wing Foot
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Northeast
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Changing
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Zaleski
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Southeast
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Changing
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COLOR CONDITION KEY: Changing – Still mostly green, less than 25 percent color. Near Peak – Significant color showing – anywhere from 30 to 60 percent color. Peak – Peak colors – as much as 85 percent showing. Fading – Fading from peak conditions and leaves falling to forest floor.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a series of updates that will highlight some of the best locations to enjoy Ohio’s fall color season. ODNR’s web site will post updated reports each Wednesday. News releases will be issued weekly by ODNR on Wednesday mornings to announce the reports, now through late October. Also online see fall foliage video reports with information from ODNR’s fall color forester, Casey Burdick.
For further information, contact:
Casey Burdick, ODNR Division of Forestry
614. 212. 3286
Jason Fallon, ODNR Office of Communications
614. 265. 6842
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