Natural History Wanderings

Great Smoky National Park reports

The main fall leaf season is still more than a month away (mid to late October), but some early color is starting to develop on a few trees. Some dogwood trees have a reddish cast that will develop into brilliant reds later in October. Other species such as sourwood, red maple, witch hobble, sumac and blueberries are also beginning to sport red leaves, especially on trees and shrubs at higher elevation. Overall however, there’s not much fall color to see yet — just scattered trees here and there, and their colors are still just a hint of what they’ll become in a few more weeks. Fall flowers such as asters, Joe-Pye-weed, jewelweed, ironweed, and golden rod are blooming now. And the colorful fruits of hearts-a-bustin’ are splitting open. For fall photos and updates from the park, visit our official facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/GreatSmokyMountainsNPS