The Colors of Fall in Aspen

lonelyplanet.com

It's September, and a lot of us are getting geared up for fall... cooler weather, crisper air, and the change of colors.  Seeing leaves turn from green to orange, red and yellow over the next couple of months might make autumn my favorite time of the year, and I know I'm not alone.

In fact, fall foliage is a big deal in the US.  As meteorologists, we update the public with "peak" maps every day; viewer photos start pouring in; and people who live in warmer climates travel north in hopes to catch the trees at the perfect time.  Places like the Berkshires in Massachusetts and Aspen, Colorado become big tourist destinations.

What is the perfect time?  That depends on the area, the weather, and the type of tree.  According to the US National Arboretum, the trees around your home will actually start to change at the same time every year.  That's because the earlier sunset and shorter days are actually the key factor in telling a tree it's time to stop making food, and chlorophyll (the green stuff) disappears.  The weather comes into play when talking about the brightness of the colors.  Soil moisture and temperatures both have a big impact, which is why we issue daily updates.

In the grand scheme of things, parts of Colorado, Minnesota and New England are usually the first to start changing- in mid to late September (check out this map from weather.com).

You've probably heard of Aspen?  It's right in the heart of that "late September" deep red in Colorado.  The city is named after the Aspen tree, and it was named after the tree for a reason.  As Fodor's says, "when a world famous town is named after a tree, you know it's an extraordinary specimen.  Aspen trees turn a rich yellow hue in the fall and literally shimmer in the breeze when the sun hits them."  Sounds AMAZING.  Fall in New England is typically coated in more of the oranges and reds (from Maples and Oaks).  The dominance of Aspen trees in Colorado paints the landscape in a distinct yellow blanket.

jameskay.com

For people who make the trip out, colorado.com says there are self-guided tours, farmers' markets, festivals, art fairs, and just about everything you could possibly want to make fall feel like the best time of year.  In fact, the whole state celebrates the start of autumn: Boulder has a downtown Fall Fest, the Western Slope town of Paonia has its own Harvest Festival, and there are corn mazes and apple picking galore.

In Aspen itself, the tree has a short season, glimmering around the city for up to 3 weeks before leaves start to fall.  It's usually over by early October.  For the rest of the country, that's just the start of the season!  So wherever you're celebrating from, I say, grab a warm apple cider, and cheers to the colors of autumn!

visittellurite.com