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Web assists lovers of fall foliage
A quiet stroll on a brisk autumn afternoon surrounded by fallen leaves crunching underfoot is without equal. Western New York is home to some beautiful fall foliage that displays its peak color in mid- to late-October. The Web provides some useful information to help leaf lovers take full advantage of the unique beauty of this season.
Wikipedia offers an informative overview of why leaves change color in the autumn. The leaves of deciduous trees—those that shed leaves during winter—are green due to the presence of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorbs energy from the sun, creating carbohydrates that nourish the tree. During the summer, the chlorophyll is regularly replenished, but as the temperature drops and daylight is shortened, the tree no longer replaces the chlorophyll. With the chlorophyll gone, other pigments that were not previously visible become clear in the leaf. Suddenly, an array of orange, yellow and red will appear, and the leaves begin to drop from the tree.
To time your walks for when the leaves are at peak color, visit the Foliage Network. This site has foliage reports specific to different regions of the United States that are updated twice a week. The reports contain color-coded maps that show the amount of color change and leaf drop, along with a helpful text summary for the region. Western New York, for example, currently has little or no color change, and almost no leaf drop. The report's archives allow one to determine the peak time for color based on reports from previous years. Also included on this site is information on accommodations and other local attractions in key foliage regions.
If you are looking to take a road trip, Travelnotes.org's directory of "The Best Foliage Sites in America" links to Web sites and foliage hotlines for more than 30 states. For popular foliage destinations in New England, peak color season begins in late September, so pack your bags quickly.
If you do travel to New England, be sure to check out Yankee Foliage. Not only is there an interactive foliage map of this region, there are forums for leaf talk with foliage aficionados and a foliage blog. This site also includes some unique and fun features, such as a search function to look for seasonal festivals and family activities, descriptions of six spectacular scenic drives through New England and an article on "Leaf Peeper Dos and Don'ts."
For those that enjoy photography, Photo Travel has an excellent list of Web sites compiled specifically for photographers. It contains sites with foliage reports and tours, and guides to specific regions detailing how to find the most colorful leaves.
If you are unable to travel, but still want to experience the full array of foliage, the University of Illinois Extension site "The Miracle of Fall" features links to live foliage Web cams. Happy leaf-spotting!
—Tiffany Walsh, Arts and Sciences Libraries