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Fall Foliage on the Wayne

Autumn 2004

Wayne NF Fall Foliage Report – October 18, 2004

The Wayne National Forest is in the midst of its peak for fall color change.  We are approximately one week behind the color change of 2003. The buckeyes, black walnuts, and sycamores have shed almost all of their leaves.  The tulip poplar and yellow poplar are fully showing yellow and gold. The sweet gums, exhibiting more brilliant red and eggplant tones each day, have reached full color.  The sumac has reached its peak color and the sugar maples and red maples have increased to approximately 80-90% of their expected change; soon they will begin to drop their leaves.   The pine needles are beginning to turn brown and have already begun to drop, due in part to the recent stretch of rainy days that Southeastern Ohio has experienced.  The peak of the first color change is upon us and is estimated at 80%.  The second change will come soon, as the oaks, hickories, and ash trees have already begun to change.  Overall, fall color change is estimated at 60% with our second color peak, involving the less colorful oaks and hickories, expected before Halloween.

Please, don’t forget, when the leaves start covering the forest floor they are quickly dried by the wind and the danger of forest fires rises. Be extra careful in these conditions so we can enjoy the color again next year. Please, be extra careful!

While you are in Ohio stop by one of our many fairs and festivals.

Festivals, Fairs and Special Events in SE Ohio:

Final Fridays - Nelsonville Public Square, Nelsonville, Ohio – 10/31/04 - 6:00pm until 10:00pm
An evening of art, music, and food on the historic square of Nelsonville. Admission: Free For more information contact: Ann Judy (740) 753-1011

Bluegrass Concert - Pennyroyal Opera House, Fairview, Ohio – the last Friday of every month, 7pm
Come and enjoy a full evening of music and fun, This Friday the Bluegrass concert will open with “Buck and The Boys”; and features “Janet Williams.” Cafeteria opens at 5:00 pm. Call 740-425-9253 for more information.

Carrollton Band Craft Show - 152 3rd St. NE, Carrollton, Ohio – 11/06/04, 9am-5pm
Held in the Carrollton High School gym, over 50 crafters on display. Call (330) 627-2134 for more information.

The Castle - 418 Fourth Street, Marietta, Ohio - All events below shown in green.
Ghost Tours of The Castle - October 22; 7:30, 8:30 PM
Tour The Castle and hear the eerie stories of the people who lived (and died) there.

October 23 - Traditions of Halloween - an overnight for the stouthearted. 4:00 PM - 8:30 AM. Children in grades 3 - 5 participate in a special Victorian Gothic Halloween with ghost stories and crafts, jack-o-lanterns and ghastly grub, witches and goblins and midnight hauntings. Reg. fee $40. Members $35. Meals included. Reservations, please

Halloween Storytelling- October 29 and 30 7:00, 8:00 & 9:00 PM; The later the hour, the spookier the story! See The Castle in its Gothic Garb. Hear the spine chilling tales of storyteller Lyn Ford. Adm: $5.00. Reservations, please

Holiday Salon Series - October 31;  4:00 - 6:00 PM; "Again and Again" Reservations, please
An afternoon of music, information, and desserts. The Trillium Piano Trio will perform. Series of 3 concerts: $40. Members, $30. Single concert: Adults $15, Students $10.00, Reservations, please

Children’s Quilts: treasures from private homes - November 1-27

Holiday Salon Series - November 28;  4:00- 6:00 PM; "Music of Revolution" Reservations, please
An afternoon of music, information and Victorian desserts. The Trillium Piano Trio will perform. Reservations, please.

Christmas Open House. December 5 & 12  1:00 - 6:00; The Castle is decorated in Victorian splendor. Enjoy holiday refreshments and musical entertainment. Regular Admissions. December 19 4:00 – 6:00 PM Holiday Salon Series - Trillium Piano Trio. "Story and Song: Music from the Stage" Reservations, please.

Call (740) 373- 4180 for more information or visit the website: http://www.mariettacastle.org/

Bluegrass & Old Time Country Music Jam - Ohio State Route 7, Sardis, Ohio (4-1/2 miles S. of Sardis & 1-1/2 miles N. of Fly) – First Saturday of every month, dinner served at 4:30 pm - All Bands Welcome –Enjoy bluegrass music? We have some of the best around and there is no admission charge. We are a real family oriented affair. There are no alcoholic beverages or smoking allowed in the building. No need to cook, food concession opens at 4:30 p.m. and there is camping on the grounds. Situated on the banks of the Ohio River, along with the music you can enjoy the wonderful scenery. Bands come in from the tri-state area and perform from 6:00 p.m. until? House Band begins playing at 6:00 p.m. and visiting bands draw for playing times at 6:30 p.m. to begin playing at 7:00p.m. Come and hear some real bluegrass music at its best. Call (740) 865-2288 or visit http://www.riversedgeactivitiescenter.com for more information.

For fall foliage information around the country, call the fall color hotline at 1-800-354-4595.

Each of the links below provide a recommended driving tour for viewing fall colors on the forest.

Most people suppose fall frosts are responsible for the color change in trees, but this is not the case. Many years the leaves change colors long before we have a frost.

According to Indian legend, celestial hunters slew the Great Bear in the autumn, and his blood, dripping on the forests, changed many leaves to red. Other trees were turned yellow by the fat that splattered out of the kettle as the hunters cooked the meat.

We now know that trees change color as a result of chemical processes. All during spring and summer a green pigment in the leaves, called chlorophyll, absorbs energy from the sunlight and uses it to transform carbon dioxide and water to carbohydrates. Along with the green pigment, the leaves also contain yellow and orange pigments. Most of the year these pigments are masked by the greater amount of green chlorophyll. But in the fall, partly because of changes in the period of daylight and changes in temperature, the green pigment breaks down; the green color fades; and the yellowish colors become visible.

At the same time, other chemical changes occur causing the formation of additional pigments that vary from yellow to red to blue. These pigments are responsible for the reddish and purplish fall colors of leaves, such as dogwoods and sumacs. Others give the sugar maple its brilliant orange or fiery red and yellow. The various colors result from different amounts of the pigments in various tree species during the fall season.

Fall weather conditions favoring the formation of brilliant red colors are warm, sunny days with cool nights of temperatures below 45 degrees. Sugars are made in the leaves during the daytime, but cool nights prevent the sugars from moving from the leaves. The red pigment is formed from the trapped sugars. The degree of color may vary from tree to tree. Leaves directly exposed to the sun may turn red, while those on the shady side of the same tree, or on other trees, may be yellow. Depending on weather conditions, the colors on one tree can vary from year to year.

Color changes are not the only changes taking place in the leaves in Fall. A layer of cells are laid down at the base of the leaf stalk to gradually sever the leaf. The layer also acts as a healing scar once the leaf drops. The oaks and a few other species may keep their dead leaves until growth starts in the spring.

The leaves still provide a function to nature even after they've fallen. Leaves contain relatively large amounts of valuable elements, which when decomposed return to the soil.