UNITED STATES: Fall Colours

Our timing to dog-sit B-Mac at the end of October worked perfectly to see the leaves change to their fall colours. 

The Blue Ridge Mountains are known for having one of the longest and most colorful fall seasons in the eastern United States.

A major reason the colors are so vivid is the biodiversity of the mountains.

More than a hundred species of deciduous trees grow here, each changing at a different time and producing different shades.

The colours depend on the trees. Maple trees turn red and orange, hickory trees turn golden, birch and beech trees turn yellow, sourwoods turn crimson, and oak trees turn a deep russet. All of these layers mix together across the rolling ridgelines. 

Because the range stretches across many elevations—everything from low valleys to peaks over 6,000 feet—the leaves don’t change all at once.

The color moves in stages, starting at the highest ridges first, and gradually flowing down the mountainsides into generally early November. This creates a “wave” of autumn color that lasts far longer than in most places.

It appears that this year we were a bit early for the dramatic colours. They said it had been dry and that it wasn’t as vibrant as it usually is at this time.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, which winds for hundreds of miles along the mountain spine has some great vantage points for experiencing the color.

I think dogs are supposed to be colour blind, so I am not sure that B-Mac would see the changing colours, but, B-Mac is always up for an adventure. 

He was more than game to explore with us.

We did some hiking and got very pretty scenic views.

The Bromance continued.