Posted by Johnny Boyd on September 3, 2009 at 10:02 AM
For you locals in the area what is your take for this fall in the Smokies and along the Blue Ridge?
After three years of the San Juans and those golden Aspens we are heading to the Smokies this fall.
Johnny
Austin, Texas
Posted by Rob Narwid on September 5, 2009 at 6:14 PM
If you're thinking about hitting the Roanoke Bedford area of the Blue Ridge. It's usually best around mid October. I'm a few miles from the parkway and was up there today and no fall changes yet.
Posted by Joe Baltimore on September 9, 2009 at 4:00 AM
Last year, Graveyard Fields was really spectacular on Oct, 9 - Oct 12 that I know of.
Posted by Steve Hamley on September 10, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Graveyard Fields along the Parkway above Waynesville, NC is usually the earliest color, usually around the first full week of October.
The usual suspects in the Smokies are Tremont, Greenbrier, Big Creek, and the other major river valleys. These will be at peak typically about the 20th - 30th of October. Higher elevations will peak sooner, but IMO the Parkway has better color at elevation.
The rain effect is a question this year. The past several years have been intensely dry and hot, and the lower elevation leaves suffered. However, the color around the high Parkway peaks has been very good indeed during this period.
I've seen mold on leaves and even yard grass at my house (Knoxville), and some of my chestnuts have started to rot in the burr before they drop.
The real answer is nobody knows. As Wegee said, f:8 and be there!
Discussion
3 repliesAfter three years of the San Juans and those golden Aspens we are heading to the Smokies this fall.
Johnny
Austin, Texas
The usual suspects in the Smokies are Tremont, Greenbrier, Big Creek, and the other major river valleys. These will be at peak typically about the 20th - 30th of October. Higher elevations will peak sooner, but IMO the Parkway has better color at elevation.
The rain effect is a question this year. The past several years have been intensely dry and hot, and the lower elevation leaves suffered. However, the color around the high Parkway peaks has been very good indeed during this period.
I've seen mold on leaves and even yard grass at my house (Knoxville), and some of my chestnuts have started to rot in the burr before they drop.
The real answer is nobody knows. As Wegee said, f:8 and be there!
Cheers, Steve