CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As autumn settles over Northeast Ohio, the landscape transforms into a vibrant canvas of red, orange and gold. But fall on the calendar (Sunday, Sept. 22, this year) doesn’t necessarily coincide with full-on fall color.
Alexandra Faidiga, a plant recorder with Holden Forests & Gardens, explained to cleveland.com that predicting the peak time for fall foliage can be tricky. She noted that early fall heat and dry conditions can affect both the timing and duration of the seasonal colors.
“Cool, wet falls are ideal for vibrant and long-lasting fall color, but unfortunately much of Ohio is experiencing a drought right now,” Faidiga said. “Although we’ve had a dry fall in Northeast Ohio, the southeastern part of the state is seeing the worst of it, and Lake County is actually the only county in the state that is not experiencing abnormally dry conditions or worse. “This means we are likely to have a longer-lasting fall color season than some of the areas of the state that have been severely affected by drought.
” Faidiga added that the Holden Arboretum has already seen some early signs of fall color, partially due to stress from the dry, warm weather. Still, she said, Northeast Ohio is likely to experience an average fall foliage season this year. “The last two weeks of October are a safe bet for viewing fall color before winter really starts to set in,” she said.
Whether you’re a nature lover or simply seeking a scenic escape, here are some of.