LIFESTYLES
BY ALAN HODGE
Staff Writer
Layout By: Shelley Campbell
It’s time once again to love
the leaves. With the peak leaf
viewing season rapidly
approaching, now is when all
foliage followers should start
planning where they want to go
for the visual delight that color-
ful autumn leaves bring.
First, a bit of science about
what actually causes leaves to
turn their brilliant fall hues of
red, gold, orange and deep pur-
ple. A leaf is green because of the
pigment called chlorophyll. This
pigment plays an important role
in the process of photosynthesis
which provides nourishment to
the plant.
As autumn approaches and
the days grow shorter, the
chlorophyll begins to break
down in deciduous plants. When
this occurs, other hidden pig-
ments in the leaf gradually
assume dominance. Depending
on the plant or tree species,
these pigments can include the
yellow tones of xanthophyll,
orange-red carotene, or the pur-
ple and red anthocyanins. With
the continued breakdown of
chlorophyll, the leaf will eventu-
ally wither and fall off.
Several factors affect the tim-
ing and intensity of fall leaf col-
ors. Two are elevation and mois-
ture. With each 1,000 foot
increases in elevation, the ambi-
ent temperature drops three
degrees. Simply put, this means
that the higher terrain of the
mountain regions makes plant
chlorophyll break down sooner
than warmer lower elevations.
The amount of moisture that has
been available to the plant during
the summer also plays a role in
its fall coloration. Dry conditions
cause the plant to experience
increased stress and drop its
leaves before they have a chance
to reach peak color.
According to the N.C.
Department of Travel and
Tourism, leaves are already turn-
ing colors in the higher eleva-
tions. Scattered frost has been
reported in the northern moun-
tains at elevations above 4,500
feet. Officials at the Blue Ridge
Parkway report sourwood and
dogwood trees are turning early
this year. Near Boone and
Blowing Rock, reports of red and
gold maple leaves are coming in.
The central mountain areas of
North Carolina will begin to see
major color changes in two to
three weeks. A cool snap will
have colors around Asheville
begin to emerge during this time
as well. One species that will be
putting on a show soon include
mountain ash with its deep red
berries contrasting with soft yel-
low leaves. Grandfather
Mountain with it’s 5,837 foot ele-
vation is currently a mixture of
turning leaves and blooming
wildflowers.
The foothills and Piedmont
region is just starting to see fall
colors appear. Predictions are for
the peak season to begin in about
two to three weeks and run
through early November. Look
for poplar, sourwood, dogwood,
and sweetgums to show color
first.
Places to view the brilliant fall
colors can be as near as your
own backyard or as far away as
the Great Smoky Mountains.
Drives in the Blue Ridge and
Smokies can include Craggy
Gardens on the Blue Ridge
Parkway, Highway 215 out of
Canton by the French Broad
River, Highway 64 West along
the National Scenic Waterfall
Byway, and Roan Mountain.
Closer to home, there are plenty
of great places in Cleveland and
Gaston counties to see the
autumn leaves.
One of the top local spots to
take in the beauty of fall is
Crowders Mountain State Park.
Ranger Kelly Cook predicts that
the leaves at Crowders will not
reach their peak until the end of
October.
“We have a few black gums,
sweet gums and sourwoods
beginning to turn now,” Cook
said. “The recent cooler tempera-
tures will speed up the process.”
Cook said an excellent way to
take in the fall colors at
Crowders Mountain is to scale
Kings Pinnacle and view the
panorama from that height. On a
clear day, you can see all the way
to Charlotte.
Down I-85 from Crowders
Mountain, Kings Mountain
National Military Park and
Kings Mountain State Park are
two more spots to take in the fall
leaves. Timing of the leaf colors
at these parks will be similar to
el RTL RD ee. —
Crowders. Be patient, the end of
October will be here before you
know it.
Located near the
Cleveland/Burke county line,
South Mountains State Park
already has red maple and sweet
gums turning color, according to
Ranger Walter Gravley.
“We have most of the same
tree species that you find along
the Blue Ridge Parkway,”
Gravley said. “Our trees will
probably peak around October
20.”
Gravely added that depend-
ing on the weather, that date
could be moved back five or so
days. He also said that South
Mountains typically peaked a
week after trees on the Blue Ridge
Parkway.
There are plenty of sources for
information on the fall leaf situa-
tion. The N.C. Department of
Tourism has a “Leaf Peeper”
website at www.visitnc.com
which gives constant updates on
where to go and what the leaves
are doing. They also have a toll-
free number at 1-800-VISITNC for
information. To access the U.S.
Forest Service, call 1-828-257-4200.
The number at Crowders
Mountain State Park is 853-5375.
South Mountains State Park can
be reached at 1-828-433-4772.
Information about the leaves
in the Blue Ridge and Smoky
mountains can be found at High
Country Host, Boone, at 1-800-
438-7500, or Smoky Mountain
Host at 1-800-432-4678.
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