Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 12, 1995 TAG: 9510130004
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STACY JONES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The hand-wringing can stop. Expert opinion has it that this year's presentation will not - repeat, will NOT - be chromatically challenged.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
``Good years, bad years, it's all in our heads,'' laughed John Seiler, a professor in the department of forestry at Virginia Tech. ``It varies less than people think. They're all about the same.''
If that isn't convincing - read on.
``People that have lived in the mountains for years will tell you that dry weather makes for more spectacular colors,'' said Blue Ridge Parkway spokesperson Patti Lockamy. ``You only need a little rain - to hold the leaves on the trees.''
``What's needed is moisture around the time the leaves are starting to change,'' explained Seiler. ``The rain we've been getting should do.''
``The dry summer shouldn't have any effect,'' he added. ``I believe it will be a pretty good year.''
Peter Givens, a Blue Ridge Parkway ranger agrees - to a point.
``We do need moisture, but we don't need heavy rains that can knock the leaves down,'' he said. ``Still, the dry weather will make a difference,'' he cautioned. ``They'll turn, but they won't hang around long. They'll turn, then fall off.''
Not so, predicted Lockamy, who works out of the Asheville, N.C., Parkway headquarters. ``Although the peak weekends are upon us, we should have good color until the end of the month.''
One thing is certain - and ALL the experts concurred: This weekend and next will find fall colors at their peak.
Higher elevations to the north and south of Roanoke have reported a 30 percent to 40 percent change, while the lower elevations have a 10 percent change, which is ``just about normal,'' Givens said.
It is the length of the day, or the shortening of it, that triggers the fall color-changing process, Seiler said. Higher elevations are affected first by the cooler temperatures and decreased sunlight associated with fall which is why these areas peak before lower elevations. This seasonal prompt causes the trees to stop producing chlorophyll, which is what keeps the leaves green. Chlorophyll, essential to photosynthesis, is the process that produces sugars as food for the leaves. When the chlorophyll is no longer being produced, there are no more nutrients for the trees and they go dormant, shedding leaves and storing any remaining food in the branches, until spring.
Here's another interesting fact about leaves: Under the green summer hue, leaves have a variety of pigments, so when the green fades any number of colors can appear. That's why one tree can display a variety of colors.
For viewers who plan to go out this weekend, it's a good idea to start with the higher elevations. Givens suggested the Peaks of Otter around Sharp Top and Flat Top. Another option, he said, is the Adney Gap area near the top of Bent Mountain at Milepost 136 on the Parkway.
Sight-seers who go out later are advised to change elevations during their route.
``Some people just get a room at the Peaks of Otter and stay there and then wonder why they didn't see anything,'' admonished Givens.
If visitors were to drive from Roanoke to Fancy Gap to Waynesboro, they would hit various elevations and ``be assured of seeing the pretty colors,'' he said.
The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles between Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Last year, approximately 2 million people used the Parkway during October.
``It will be crowded,'' warned Lockamy, who said the Parkway's most popular spots typically receive at least 40,000 visitors during the peak period. ``There will be bumper-to-bumper traffic.''
She had some tips to limit the frustrations on what should be an enjoyable trip:
If possible, travel during the weekday or on a Saturday to avoid the usual Sunday onslaught.
Watch the weather. Don't procrastinate. If it's a nice day, take advantage of it.
Remember, lower elevations peak later in the month. If you can't make it this weekend, don't fret, you should still have time.
While predicting the peak resplendency of fall colors is about as exact as predicting the weather, there is little doubt Virginians will be able to see some beautiful colors. The only question is how much time they'll have before the fiery leaves of fall become the discarded brown nuisances that blanket lawns and fill Hefty bags.
Place your bets.
by CNB