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September 28, 2006
OHIO FALL COLOR UPDATE #1 -- SEPTEMBER 28
FALL COLOR SITE
NOTE: This is the first in a series of updates highlighting the progression of Fall Color in Ohio. Updated reports are available from ODNR each Thursday through early November.
COLUMBUS, OH Reports from state parks, nature preserves and forests throughout Ohio are noting “change” in area woodlands during this last week of September, with northern areas reporting 10-15 percent color and southern areas about 5 percent, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
“Poison ivy vines and Virginia creeper are turning red throughout the state, while oaks and buckeyes are turning yellow and gold,” said Casey Munchel, fall color spokesperson with the ODNR Division of Forestry. “Thanks to the work of a tiny insect called a leaf ‘miner,’ locust trees are already turning bright yellow. Most maples, on the other hand, are turning red as a result of spider mites. These insects do not affect the overall health of trees.”
These insects appear late in the summer virtually every year, bringing on early color change in certain species. But because the trees have already absorbed sufficient nutrients for the year, the insects have little negative effect.
A moist, seasonal summer has Fall Color arriving right on schedule, Munchel said. The next two weeks should see peak color in some northern regions of the state, with the mid-section reaching peak by the middle of October.
Delaware State Park in Delaware County will hold its Fall Festival, September 29-30. Visitors can celebrate the season with games, crafts, wagon rides, pontoon boat rides, displays, movies and food. Campers are encouraged to decorate campsites and wear a costume to win prizes. Regular camping fees apply. For more information call 740-369-2761.
 To help Ohioans and out-of-state visitors make the most of this popular outdoor season, weekly updates are available from the best fall color viewing locations across the state through 1-800-BUCKEYE. Internet users can also find information and activities at ohiodnr.com or at discoverohio.com .
Ohio's 74 state parks, 20 state forests and 130 state nature preserves provide excellent locations to sample the splendid fall foliage. Here are current reports from selected locations.
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