Kathy Mathews, Western Carolina University’s fall foliage forecaster, is predicting a good display of color this autumn in Western North Carolina’s mountains. However, leaf peepers should be aware that some areas will enjoy brighter hues than others.Due to local rainfall amounts across the region this past spring and summer, the intensity of the fall colors will vary. Mathews, an associate professor of biology at WCU, bases her annual prediction in part on weather conditions during the spring and summer growing season.
Mathews also states:
“Look for some of the best colors on Grandfather Mountain, the Graveyard Fields area of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Nantahala National Forest along U.S. Highway 64 between Macon and Clay counties. These and other ridgetop areas show colors in all hues of red, orange and yellow. The forested areas will have a lot of yellow tulip poplars, red maple, and orange and red oak. Graveyard Fields also has a lot of shrubs that turn red.”
To read the entire article in the Reporter that details her forecast, please click here.
Jeff
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