Hey, friends! Welcome back to your on-the-ground update, where the leaves are real and the yellows are rising.
This week has remained persistently green. Almost annoyingly persistently green.
The good news is that this could mean we’re in for a later fall, but for now, the change has been slow. There has been very little overall movement in the landscape.
Cottonwoods and aspens are starting to lighten things up with some early yellows before they reach those deeper golden hues. You’ll notice them especially in some of the lowland areas and near the water.
These trees may be close cousins, but let’s be clear: we are not Colorado. Our aspens don’t cover the bluffs like they blanket the mountain slopes. Much of what you see covering those bluffs is actually white cedar.
Still, aspens have their own little contribution to the season. On a brisk fall day, you can hear that lovely rustling sound of their leaves moving in the breeze.
We’re still waiting for that cold snap to really get the color moving and brighten up those hues. For now, the forecast remains pretty muted and mellow, with plenty of green still stretching across the landscape.
The chlorophyll continues to fade, but there were no big, dramatic changes this week.
Top Pick of the Week
You can still find plenty of trees showing that early popcorn color along the roadsides.
If you’re looking for some fall color photos, head farther north. The farther north you go, the better your chances of finding those early pops of color and, with the right timing, that perfect golden-hour photograph.
The big color show is still waiting on that cooler weather, but the first hints are starting to appear.
