New Jersey tree experts agree this is not a banner year for autumn color.
Tree experts agree it's not a banner season for fall foliage here in New Jersey. The drought conditions that started this summer and persisted into fall caused many trees to drop leaves early. So what's a Garden State leaf-peeper got to do to get a foliage fix?
Don't despair. According to Tom Sheppard, Chief Park Naturalist at the Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation, there are still good opportunities to find good fall color.
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"If you're going out to see seasonal changes, try to get into the river systems. This is where the trees have been able to tap into a more established water table."
Sheppard thinks it will be these trees that may display colors for a longer period of time. Some suggestions by Sheppard include a drive down River Road along the South Branch of the Raritan River from Califon into the Ken Lockwood Gorge in Lebanon Township.
"New Jersey Conservation Foundation's Wickecheoke Creek Preserve is another good option," according to Sheppard. It's a Delaware River tributary in the Western Piedmont region of Hunterdon County whose headwaters begin on the Croton Plateau and descend down to the Delaware River at Stockton.
Farther to the north, you might also consider a ride along the Delaware River. Sheppard mentions a stretch from Phillipsburg in Warren County south through Riegelsville to Milford as another possibility.
As for the trees, well, maples do pretty well in drier conditions. Trees like the sugar and red maple typically have a larger moisture reservoir which help them get through a longer dry spell. Look for these trees to still put on a good show of orange and red colors.
A sugar maple tree in Hunterson County begins to show autumn color Wondering how those colors happen? It's all about the chlorophyll a tree produces throughout the spring and summer. Chlorophyll gives leaves their green color. As the nights get longer during early fall, trees get ready for winter by blocking the chlorophyll from getting to the leaves.
The lack of chlorophyll in the leaf allows the yellow (xanthophylls) and orange (carotenoids) pigments in the leaf to become visible. Red and purple pigments (anthocyanins) are created from sugars that are trapped in the leaf. The pigments are responsible for the stunning color changes.
So get out there and find some color. And don't forget to take a look through the gallery above to help you identify those autumn leaves.
Andre Malok may be reached at amalok@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @AndreMalok. Find NJ.com on Facebook.