Natural History Wanderings

Fall Leaf Color Updates | Great Smoky Mountains Association posted the following report for 9/23/13:

It’s fall color time in the Great Smoky Mountains! A spell of sunny days and crisp nights is bringing on some attractive early colors. At the higher elevations, American beech, yellow birch, witch-hobble, maples, and several types of berry bushes are showing good color. The bright red berries on American mountain-ash trees are also abundant.

Lower down, several species of trees have started to change. Sycamore, sassafras, witch hazel, walnut, black gum, sourwood, Virginia creeper, sumacs, and black walnut are all showing color. Fall wildflowers are also conspicuous, including jewelweed, asters, goldenrod, and white snakeroot.

Good places for a drive include Clingmans Dome Road and the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s a great time to hike Mt. Le Conte!

The peak of fall colors at the higher elevations is likely a week or more away. At the lower and mid elevations, colors traditionally peak in late October or early November.