Shenandoah National Park Fall Color Report as of September 16, 2008.  

Did you remember that September 22^nd is the fall equinox--a day of equal light and dark? From that day until the end of December, the days will become shorter as the nights grow longer. And right on cue, the trees and other plants in Shenandoah are triggered to stop producing chlorophyll, the food that sustains them throughout the summer and gives leaves their green color. As chlorophyll production is reduced, the green color begins to fade. This allows other pigments to show through, and can produce a dazzling array of yellows, oranges, reds in the trees of Shenandoah NP.

The exciting part is that not all of these changes take place at once. Shenandoah National Park is over 70 miles long and due to the varying degrees of elevations along the many hollows, ridges and summits, it’s impossible to pick a “peak date” for the entire park. History has shown us, however, that between the 2^nd and 3^rd weeks of October, the colors of fall seem to be at their most brilliant stage here in Shenandoah.  

Throughout the park, and especially in the higher elevations, some color changes are already taking place, often in the form of a single branch or clump of leaves that have turned yellow, red or orange, depending on the tree species. The black gums are starting to display deep orange-red leaves and the cherries, birches and striped maples will be the next in line. Even in the lower elevations, the Virginia creeper vines and dogwoods are beginning to turn to shades of deep red and purple. This provides a sharp contrast to most of the trees in the park which are still quite green.

Fall wildflowers are displaying their seasonal hues as well. Aptly named Goldenrods and bountiful Purple Asters are blooming vibrantly along the Skyline Drive and many trails throughout the park. The blueberry and huckleberry bushes in Big Meadows at milepost 51 are just beginning to turn parts of the meadow a deep red, and the rest of it can’t be too far behind.

Did you realize some of the animals in Shenandoah change color in fall as well? The white-tailed deer are changing from their summertime coats of reddish brown to a thicker coat of dark gray, which allows them to blend in easily with tree trunks, as well as the pavement of Skyline Drive. Remember that you, too, may need a thicker coat to help keep you warm on a visit to the park at this time of year. So bring your layers, and prepare to experience the beauty of Shenandoah National Park this fall.

This report will be updated again by September 28.