Natural History Wanderings

In the Adirondacks region, peak foliage will arrive in Saranac Lake in Franklin County this weekend, with 85 percent color change and bold, bright, and beautiful red, purple, orange, and yellow leaves. Spotters reporting from Tupper Lake predict just past peak foliage this weekend, with 90–95 percent color change. Colors are of average brilliance and include honey, goldenrod, saffron, ginger, cinnamon, russet, clementine, paprika, and merlot. This weekend will provide amazing, colorful vistas for leaf peepers, hikers, bikers, and boaters. In Malone, look for near-peak foliage with 90 percent color change and bright shades of red, gold, and orange across the landscape.

In Essex County, spotters reporting from Wilmington and the Whiteface Mountain area expect peak foliage this weekend, with 100 percent color change and bright, brilliant shades of gold, yellow, red, and deep red. Foliage spotters in Lake Placidpredict peak conditions this weekend. Look for bright shades of red, purple, gold, and yellow. In Crown Point, expect near-peak foliage with 60–90 percent color change. Predominating colors include lingering green in the valley, with some golden yellow, russets, reds, and bright bursts of orange. Areas of higher elevation have more fall color. In Willsboro, spotters predict about 65 percent color change with average-to-bright golden yellows and orange dominating, along with dark rusty reds and deep purples. Color is at midpoint near the Lake Champlain coast and reaching near-peak in higher elevations. In Ticonderoga, foliage will be midpoint to near-peak of change this weekend with 50–60 percent color transition and increasingly vibrant yellow, orange, and red leaves. In Schroon Lake, look for foliage at the midpoint of change with 40 percent leaf transition and bright red and gold leaves.

Hamilton County spotters reporting from Lake Pleasant expect peak foliage this weekend with 90 percent color change and average-to-bright shades of yellow and orange, along with some pockets or red leaves. In Herkimer County, spotters checking in from Old Forge expect peak foliage this weekend, with 90 percent color change and red, orange, gold, and some yellow leaves of above-average brilliance. Color will be at the midpoint of change throughout Warren County. Look for 50 percent or more leaf change and muted shades of yellow, orange, red, and rust.

Peak and near-peak foliage is increasing throughout the Catskills region. Spotters reporting from Catskill in Greene County and nearby areas above 2,000 feet are expecting peak foliage this weekend with nearly 100 percent of the trees changed and very brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow, and burgundy. In Ulster County, it will be a great weekend for leaf-peeping at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount. Foliage will be at peak with lots of bright shades of red, orange, and yellow. Kingstonfoliage spotters predict a 40 percent color transition and leaves at the midpoint of change this weekend. Spotters are starting to see a real variation in spectacular color, with many more orange, yellow, and red leaves appearing.

Foliage changed dramatically over the past week in Delaware County and will be near-peak this weekend, with nearly 75 percent color change and average shades of yellow, orange, and red, along with some light green. Southeast Sullivan County spotters reporting from Forestburgh expect foliage to be at midpoint this weekend with 50 percent color change and splashes of gold, pumpkin, and wine, along with a little red. Spotters reporting from Ferndale expect leaves to be at the midpoint of change with 30 percent color transition and average-to-bright red and purple leaves.

In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, St. Lawrence County spotters reporting from Canton predict a 70 percent color change with average shades of yellow, orange and red leaves. Look for peak and past-peak conditions throughout the county. Jefferson County spotters reporting from Alexandria Bay expect near-peak foliage this weekend with a full spectrum of brilliant fall color.

Look for 50 percent color change and foliage at midpoint this weekend in Oswego County. Dark greens are holding on as autumnal hues wash across the landscape. In northern Oswego County many bright spots of orange, red, and purple color the forests. Dull greens, rust, and bronze tones continue to dominate southern areas of the county with limited pops of orange and red.

In the Capital-Saratoga region, look for 60 percent color transition and bright shades of red, yellow, gold, amber, and rust in Schenectady County according to spotters in Rotterdam. In Albany County, spotters reporting from Cohoes expect 60–65 percent color change and midpoint to near-peak foliage. Look for average shades of gold, yellow, red, and purple. In Fulton County, Gloversville spotters are calling for foliage at the midpoint of change with 50 percent color transition and increasing amounts of shades of yellow, red, and oranges. There is some leaf droppage. In Saratoga County look for near-peak foliage with 50 percent color change and bright reds, yellows, and oranges, along with ambers and greens. Rensselaer Countyspotters predict 40–50 percent color change this weekend, with the most color showing in the county’s eastern and northern portions. Look for shades of bright orange, yellow, and purple, with a perfect mix of green.

In Central New York, peak foliage will reach Oneida County by the weekend, according to spotters in Utica. Look for 95 percent color change with bright yellow, orange, and red leaves. Herkimer County spotters reporting from Mohawk predict near-peak foliage this weekend with 80 percent color change and brilliant shades of red and gold. In Madison County, spotters reporting from Delphi Falls County Park in Cazenovia predict near-peak conditions for the weekend with 75 percent foliage change and average-to-bright leaves of shades of red, orange, and yellow.

In Chenango County, Norwich spotters are predicting foliage at the midpoint of change this weekend. Look for 55–60 percent color transition with mostly yellow-brown leaves of average brilliance along with some red and orange mixed in at the higher elevations. In Schoharie County, spotters reporting from Schoharie expect 50 percent color transition and foliage at the midpoint of change. Yellow is the predominant color, along with brilliant shades of red and orange. In Broome County, leaves will be at the midpoint of change to near-peak this weekend in Binghamton. Look for around 45 percent color change with average-to-bright yellow, red, and green leaves. Otsego County spotters in Cooperstown are expecting a 40 percent change and foliage at midpoint this weekend, with yellow, orange, and green leaves of average brilliance. In Montgomery County, spotters at the Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site predict foliage at the midpoint of change this weekend with 30 percent color transition and increasing amounts of red, orange, and yellow leaves.

In the Finger Lakes region, Steuben County foliage spotters in Corning expect 75 percent color change and bright red, gold, yellow, and orange leaves heading toward near-peak. In Ithaca, in Tompkins County, foliage will be just at the end of the midpoint of change this weekend, with 70 percent color transition. Look for bright shades of yellow and orange along with some bright and muted shades of red.

In Cayuga County, Auburn foliage spotters predict foliage will be at the midpoint of change with 50 percent color transition and lots of bright shades of red, orange, and yellow, along with the remaining green. In Monroe County, spotters reporting from Rochester predict 45–50 percent color change with a wonderful array of fall color featuring average-to-bright red, russet, yellow, and gold-yellow leaves. There is vibrant color among the trees along the Thruway from Rochester to Buffalo. Just north of Rochester, spotters reporting from Greece and surrounding communities expect 40–45 percent color change as the area seems to be changing in pockets—there are some areas of considerable green, while other areas have high color, mainly yellow, along with small patches of orange-red. Some trees have changed directly to a rust-brown color and a few types of trees have already lost their leaves.

In Cortland County, look for up to 60 percent color change with red, yellow, and orange leaves of average brilliance. Livingston County spotters expect 40–50 percent color change with average-to-bright shades of red covering the treetops, while golds and yellows are skimming the leaf edges. The southern portion of Livingston County will be near-peak, while the middle and northern portions will be at the midpoint of change. Observers reporting from Canandaigua in Ontario County predict that foliage will be at the midpoint of change with 45 percent color transition and increasingly brighter shades of yellow, red, and gold. In Chemung County, spotters reporting from Elmira and Horseheads expect 40 percent color change with vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red rapidly emerging over the remaining green leaves.

In Onondaga County, Syracuse foliage spotters predict 35 percent color change with yellow leaves of average brilliance and some pops of red and orange. In Schuyler County, Watkins Glen foliage spotters are predicting 35 percent color change this weekend with green and yellow-gold leaves, along with a slight touch of red. Ontario County spotters in Geneva predict foliage at the midpoint of change with 25–30 percent color transition and green and yellow leaves of average brilliance, along with some red and orange leaves. In Tioga County, spotters in Owego project 30 percent color change and yellow, red, and green leaves of average brilliance.

In Wayne County, foliage will be heading toward the midpoint of change this weekend, with 30 percent color change and bright gold leaves. Overall, foliage in Yates County is still in the beginning stages of change, with greater changes noted in the higher elevations. Look for yellow and brown leaves, along with isolated areas of orange and vibrant red.

In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, Cattaraugus County spotters reporting from Allegany State Park predict near-peak conditions this weekend, with 55 percent color change with yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance. This will be one of the best weekends to visit the park this season for fall foliage. In Little Valley and Ellicottville, look for midpoint to near-peak foliage with muted yellow and bright orange leaves. In Chautauqua County, spotters predict 35–45 percent color change, with more color in the southern and middle portions of the county. Leaves are of average brilliance and include green and dark orange with some red and yellow.

In the Greater Niagara region, the Springville area of Erie County will be near-peak this weekend, with 80 percent color change and yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance. Spotters reporting from Buffalo expect leaves to be at the midpoint of change this weekend with 35 percent color transition and bright yellow, gold, red, and purple leaves. In Genesee County, look for midpoint to near-peak foliage this weekend with 45 percent color change and leaves with bright shades of orange and red. In Wyoming County, look for 40–50 percent color change with average-to-bright shades of red, yellow, and orange and conditions from beginning to the midpoint of change. Look for about 40 percent color change in Orleans County, according to spotters in Albion. There are increasing amounts of gold and red leaves of average brilliance. In Niagara County, Niagara Falls spotters expect leaves to be at the midpoint of change this weekend with 25 percent color transition and bright shades of red, orange, and yellow leaves.

In the Hudson Valley, Columbia County spotters reporting from Hudson predict 45–55 percent color change with yellow, gold, orange, and some red leaves of average brilliance and at the midpoint of change. Poughkeepsie-based spotters in Dutchess County expect 50 percent color change this weekend with average-to-bright red, orange, and yellow leaves. The northern portion of the county will be at the midpoint of change while the rest of the county will be in the early stages. Foliage will be about 35 percent changed in the New City area of Rockland County. Bright orange, red, and yellow leaves are emerging from the primarily green backdrop. Spotters at Bear Mountain State Park predict 20 percent color change for the weekend with mostly green leaves.

In Orange County, spotters in Goshen are predicting 25 percent color change with bright green, gold, orange, and some red leaves. There is more color change at higher elevations. In Westchester County, foliage will only be about 5 percent changed by the weekend. Look for isolated patches of red and yellow leaves.

Color change is still minimal on Long Island. On Eastern Long Island, spotters reporting from Riverhead in Suffolk County expect less than 10 percent color change this weekend with some trees around inland ponds and lakes beginning to change to yellow and orange. Spotters from Melville in Suffolk County predict just 5 percent color change with some yellow and orange leaves, mixed with some red, beginning to appear over the mostly green backdrop.

In New York City, spotters reporting from Morris Park in the Bronx predict 15 percent color change by the weekend, with bright isolated areas of yellow leaves, along with some orange and red leaves.