Natural History Wanderings

Parts of six regions should experience peak color change

Foliage change slowed down in many areas of New York State over the past week, creating opportunities to see peak leaves in six of the state’s 11 vacation regions this weekend, according to observers for Empire State Development’s I LOVE NY program. This weekend, look for peak colors in the Adirondacks, Catskills, Chautauqua-Allegheny, Capital-Saratoga, Thousand Islands-Seaway and Central New York regions.

In the Adirondacks region, Essex County spotters in Schroon Lake expect the area to be at peak this weekend with 80 percent color change and bright gold leaves. In Crown Point, spotters predict near-peak to peak foliage this weekend with 80-100 percent color change and average-to-bright gold and yellow leaves, along with shades of orange and red. Near-peak to peak foliage is expected in Willsboro. Look for 80-100 percent color change with average to bright golden shades of yellow and bright shades of red and orange. In Ticonderoga, leaves will be peak to past-peak by the weekend. Expect nearly complete color change and vibrant yellow, orange and red leaves.

Leaf peepers checking in from the Whiteface Mountain area in Wilmington expect just-past-peak leaves this weekend, with nearly complete color change and bright shades of gold, yellow and orange. Foliage in Lake Placid will be just past peak this weekend. Look for nearly complete color change and bright shades of red, yellow, orange and gold.

In Franklin County, foliage will be peak in Malone this weekend. Look for 95 percent color change and deep shades of red, orange and yellow. Leaves will be past-peak in Saranac Lake. Look for 95 percent color change and increasingly muted shades of red, purple, orange and yellow, along with leaf droppage. Foliage is now past peak in Tupper Lake and, with the rain and strong winds, the leaves are rapidly falling, leaving barren branches. Remaining colors include muted bronze, copper, mahogany, russet and various yellow hues.

Look for peak colors in northern Warren County, according to spotters in Chester and Hague. In the southern portion of the county, foliage will be near peak with 60 percent change. Look for muted shades of yellow, orange and rust, along with a few shades of red throughout the county. Foliage will be past peak in Hamilton County, according to spotters in Lake Pleasant. Subdued shades of yellow and orange remain, but there has been considerable leaf droppage. Foliage will also be past peak in Old Forge.

Color change has been slow over the past week in parts of the Catskills and some areas are holding on to peak and near-peak colors. In Greene County, spotters reporting from Catskill expect peak conditions to continue through the weekend. Look for 100 percent color change and brilliant colors of red, yellow, orange and burgundy. County foliage spotters reporting from above 2,500 feet note that the trees at this elevation will hold on to peak through the weekend, with very bright red, yellow and green leaves. Sullivan County spotters reporting from Forestburgh, about 20 miles from Port Jervis, note minimal color change over the past weekend and expect foliage this weekend to be 60 percent changed with dull to brilliant leaves ranging from yellow to wine with some splashes of red, along with a significant amount of remaining green leaves. Spotters reporting from Ferndale expect foliage to still be at midpoint this weekend, with 40 percent color change and some bright pops of red and purple leaves of average brilliance.

In Kingston, spotters predict up to 55 percent color change and a great variety of bright, brilliant orange, yellow and red leaves, along with some remaining green. The pace of foliage change picked up over the past two weeks in Delaware County. Look for just-past-peak leaves this weekend, with nearly complete color change and muted shades of yellow, orange and red, along with many bare trees. In Ulster County, spotters at Belleayre Mountain report that foliage is now past-peak.

In Central New York, Broome County spotters reporting from Binghamton expect peak foliage this weekend with 60 percent color change and yellow, orange and red leaves of average brilliance. In Chenango County, spotters in Norwich predict areas of peak and past-peak foliage this weekend with 85-90 percent color change. Many trees have lost their leaves and brilliance is fading on the others. The colors include yellow-brown and some spots of red and orange. Spotters are projecting peak foliage in southern Herkimer County, according to spotters in Mohawk. Look for complete leaf change with brilliant shades of red and gold. Spotters reporting from Chittenango Falls State Park in Madison County predict nearly complete color change and peak leaves this weekend with dominant shades of yellow, along with hues of orange and red.

Foliage spotters reporting from Schoharie in Schoharie County predict near-peak leaves this weekend with about 75 percent color change and bright yellow, orange and red leaves, along with some highlights of purple. Leaves will be around midpoint of change this weekend in Montgomery County, according to spotters at the Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site. Look for 40-50 percent color change and yellow and green leaves of average brilliance. In Otsego County, Cooperstown foliage spotters predict midpoint of change to near peak conditions this weekend with muted orange, yellow and green leaves. Foliage change will be just about complete in Oneida County this weekend, according to spotters in Utica. Look for past peak conditions with pale yellow and pale green leaves, along with leaf droppage.

In the Thousand Islands – Seaway region, expect peak leaves in Jefferson County, according to spotters in Alexandria Bay. Leaves should be completely changed, and include brilliant shades of red, bronze and yellow. Leaves will be peak in Oswego County, based on reports from spotters in Oswego. Look for 70 percent color change this weekend with a bright patchwork of reds, oranges and yellows blanketing the trees throughout the county’s northeast portion, while dull mustard and pumpkin shades provide the backdrop along Lake Ontario and the Oswego River. Foliage will be past peak this weekend in St. Lawrence County, according to Canton spotters. Expect 95 percent color change with yellow, orange and red leaves of average brilliance.

In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, Chautauqua County spotters reporting from Chautauqua predict 85 percent color change and peak conditions this weekend. Look for bright orange, red and yellow leaves. In Cattaraugus County, it will be a good weekend for leaf peeping at Allegany State Park where foliage spotters expect near peak conditions with 65 percent color change and yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance. The maples are the trees showing most of the colors while the oaks are still mostly green. In Little Valley, foliage spotters expect midpoint to near peak conditions this weekend with about 65 percent color change and an assortment of muted fall colors.

In the Capital-Saratoga region, look for near peak to peak foliage in Schenectady County with more than 60 percent color change and a great variety of bright colors, including shades of yellow and gold, along with reds and some pale greens. In Saratoga County expect near peak to peak foliage this weekend. Spotters in Saratoga Springs predict about 70 percent color change and a bright rainbow of yellow, red, orange and green leaves. In the Altamont area of Albany County, leaves will be peak to past peak this weekend with average shades of gold and yellow. Some areas have better colors than others, while some areas are predominantly green. Reports from Rensselaer County predict 60-80 percent color change this weekend, with the county’s eastern and northern portions to be past peak, while the western and southern portions will be at midpoint. Colors include shades of bright orange, yellow and purple, along with some green.

In the Finger Lakes, Steuben County foliage spotters reporting from Corning, Hornell, Bath, Hammondsport and Keuka Lake expect near peak foliage this weekend. Look for 80 percent color change and bright shades of red, gold, yellow and orange. In Cortland County, foliage will be heading toward near peak this weekend with 75 percent color change and yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance, along with some green. Tompkins County spotters in Ithaca predict 75 percent color change and midpoint to near peak conditions this weekend. Look for green-yellow, orange and some red leaves of average brilliance. Look for near peak leaves in Ontario County, according to spotters in Canandaigua. Expect 50-60 percent color change with average to bright yellow and red leaves, along with the remaining green leaves.

Midpoint to near-peak foliage is expected this weekend in Seneca County. Look for 65-70 percent color change and average to bright shades of yellow, orange, red and some purple, along with a good amount of remaining green. In Monroe County, Rochester foliage spotters are looking at midpoint to near peak leaves for the weekend. Expect 50-55 percent color change with dull to average red leaves on maples, russet on dogwoods, and yellow leaves on sycamore, maple and elm trees. Locust trees are showing a gold-yellow glow to their leaves and are quite prevalent, while poplar trees and some maple trees are beginning to lighten up with shades of light green on their way to yellow. Shrubby plants are also transitioning to fall colors. North of Rochester, spotters near Lake Ontario reporting from Greece predict midpoint to near peak foliage with 60-65 percent color change as the transition picks up pace. There are still trees with green foliage, but more and more are turning shades of yellow along with pockets of red/orange, while other trees have already lost their leaves.

In Cayuga County, foliage spotters reporting from Auburn expect foliage at midpoint of change this weekend, with 60 percent color transition and lots of red, orange and yellow leaves of average brilliance, along with the remaining green leaves. In Chemung County, spotters reporting from Elmira and Horseheads expect 50 percent color change with vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red, along with the remaining green leaves. The leaves in Livingston County will be midpoint to near peak this weekend, with 50 percent color change and many shades of yellow, along with emerging shades of red. The leaves are of average brilliance and give depth to the views from the county’s highways and byways. Onondaga County spotters in Syracuse expect leaves to be at midpoint of change. Look for 45 percent color transition and orange leaves of average brilliance, along with pops of yellow and red. Ontario County spotters reporting from Geneva expect 45-50 percent color change with bright green and yellow leaves, along with increased spots of red and orange.

Leaves will be heading toward midpoint of change this weekend in Wayne County, according to spotters in Lyons. Look for about 35 percent color change and bright gold and red leaves emerging from the dominant green. In Tioga County, spotters in Owego predict 30 percent color change this weekend and green, yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance. Color change is still in the early stages in Yates County.

In the Greater Niagara region, most spotters expect midpoint to near peak foliage this weekend. In Erie County, Springvilleleaf peepers expect near peak foliage with over 80 percent color change and muted yellow leaves dominating. In the Buffaloarea, look for midpoint to near peak foliage this weekend, with 45-50 percent color change and bright shades of golden yellow, burgundy, red and orange. More color can be seen south of the city. In Genesee County, expect near peak to peak foliage this weekend, with more than 50 percent color change and bright shades of orange and red. Foliage will be near peak in Niagara County, according to leaf peepers in Niagara Falls. Expect around 60 percent color change and an assortment of bright shades of yellow, red, and orange leaves.

Near peak foliage is expected in Orleans County, according to spotters in Albion. Look for an average of 75 percent color change with green, gold and red leaves of average brilliance. In Wyoming County, look for 50 percent color transition and leaves at midpoint of change with average shades of red, yellow and orange.

In the Hudson Valley, near peak foliage will arrive in Columbia County this weekend, according to spotters in Hudson. Expect 55-70 percent color change with average to bright yellow, gold and orange leaves with some red mixed in. In Dutchess County, Poughkeepsie foliage spotters expect 50 percent color change with green leaves gradually being overtaken by red, orange and yellow in higher elevations. Northern Dutchess should be at midpoint or near-peak by the weekend, while trees to the south along the Hudson River still have many green leaves.

Orange County spotters reporting from Goshen expect foliage around midpoint of change this weekend, with leaf transition averaging about 40 percent, depending on elevation, and average shades of gold, yellow and orange. In Rockland County, spotters reporting from New City expect 45 percent color change this weekend and conditions at midpoint of change with bright green, orange, red and yellow leaves. Foliage spotters at Bear Mountain State Park predict 35 percent color change with mostly green leaves along with some emerging orange, red and yellow leaves of average brilliance this weekend. Westchester County spotters reporting from White Plains expect 10 percent or less color change this weekend, with scattered patches of red or yellow leaves of average brilliance.

On Long Island, Suffolk County spotters reporting from Melville expect just 10 percent color change this weekend, with some yellow and orange leaves mixed with red over the mostly green backdrop. In eastern Suffolk County, spotters predict 10 percent color change with mostly green leaves, along with some emerging yellow-orange leaves of average brilliance. In Nassau County, spotters reporting from Manhasset and Westbury expect just 10 percent color change with key lime green leaves on their way to yellow, along with burnt sienna and bright red leaves of average brilliance.

In New York City, spotters reporting from Morris Park in the Bronx expect about 20 percent color change this weekend, with bright isolated areas of yellow leaves, along with some orange and red leaves.