Pennsylvania's Autumn Treasures

WPC Member John Karian took this image of a red maple on the Autumnal Equinox, 2002, in Sandy Creek Township, Venango County.

Soon Pennsylvania's hillsides will be covered in gold-and garnet red, carnelian and flaming orange from our magnificent trees.

Since Pennsylvania is blessed with a natural diversity of trees, we have a riot of fall colors cloaking our hillsides and mountains. This autumn, take a few minutes to observe the patterns of color change. Some trees will have only a single leaf lead off the color display; this leaf is a harbinger of the colors to come. Other trees will produce clusters of colorful leaves in full autumn regalia prior to the whole tree turning color. Look closely at individual leaves too.

In northern Pennsylvania, the first two weeks of October are usually best for viewing foliage; in the central part of the state it's show time during the middle two weeks of the month; and, in the southern counties, color is best during the last two weeks of October. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) offers a 24-hour toll-free information hotline which can be accessed by calling 1-800-FALL IN PA from today until mid-November.

Reference: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

John Karian does nature photography in Venango County.

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