Thursday, October 10, 2013

Bare Tree

Around these parts, Columbus Day weekend is prime viewing time for the 'leaf peepers'. Early Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings the buses will be streaming up Route 25 heading over to North Conway and the Kangamangus Highway in New Hampshire. On the water, the Brilliance of the Seas, a ship in the Royal Caribbean line, will be making two stops this long weekend. They'll be buses heading off  DownEast towards Freeport and further along to Camden to take in the foliage sights. It's all about color, color, color this weekend. Me? I'll be doing some contemplation and deep thinking about why our maples out front (pictured is not one of ours) are not turning the brillant reds, oranges and yellows for about the third year in a row. They basically have gone from their green of August to dull yellow-browns in early October. Also, usually this weekend they are still hanging on for dear life. Today, our two big trees are bare to the bone. What's that all about?
I might have to call the foliage doctor.
Got his number?

13 comments:

  1. Last year in Portland I noticed a lack of intensity in color...Up here the maple out my front windows is just as brilliant as can be. It's a mystery, all of it...Happy weekend contemplation! Re. foliage doctor: Does your tree have medical insurance?

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  2. ours haven't really changed yet...slowly going from green to yellow but my yard is covered in leaves!

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  3. Looks like our trees here. We had an early frost which killed off most of the Aspens.

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  4. So THAT'S why it's so crowded in Camden now!

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  5. still beautiful, though. we go from green to browns and yellows every year in texas - but we don't have many maples here to spruce things up. :)

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  6. I used to wonder the same thing when I live in Illinois. Some years the color would be unbelievable and others it just seemed to go from green to brown. I'm sure there is a scientific explanation.

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  7. It sounds like "old age" had caught up with them. It might also have something to do with the weather they have already gone through -- humans call it "lean times." The leaf color is a product of shorter days and longer nights and the amount of moisture the trees have been able to take in for the coming months.

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  8. The number is 911-365-4243. I'm wondering if you "get it."

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  9. Maybe your extension service can help -- barbara

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  10. I think I learned at one time that the color was a function of the tree's response to temperature. It may be that it's gotten chilly but not cold enough to trigger the expected colors. And I agree with Barbara at Folkways. Try calling the extension service/Master Gardeners. People like that actually know stuff (as opposed to "I think I learned...")

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  11. I am sure it all has to do with the delicate balance of the weather.

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  12. Hey, you gotta catch up to Sweden. Did you see Steffe's new post?

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