Fall is just beginning to appear on The Arboretum's grounds. This morning, the aspen grove began to show a hint of yellow in the tops of the trees. The maples in the Courtyard Garden are also beginning to turn red and orange. A few currants are at the peak of color, and the leaves of some of sumacs are bright red. The overnight temps are already into the 30s, and with the departure of the monsoons, fall is definitely here.
The boxelders are starting to turn yellow, and the Amur maple is taking on a red tinge. Barring a hard freeze, they should be in full glory the weekend of Sept. 22.
Summer is leaving and fall is on its way. Not only does the colder weather tell us this, but at The Arboretum fall is also announcing its arrival in color. Several species of trees have already started to change throughout the gardens. From the beautiful yellows of the quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), box elder (Acer negundo), and narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) to the vibrant reds of the amur maple (Acer ginnala) and black chokeberry (Photinia melanocarpa), fall colors are certainly starting to peek through the swaths of summer greens.
- Hints of yellow are beginning to show in The
- Arboretum's aspen grove. Photo taken on
- September 7, 2006.
There is some new color springing up in the gardens this week: the blue elderberry (Sambucus cerulea) and red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) near the Walter Reichart house are beginning to turn their fall colors. Many of the amur maples around the gardens are almost fully turned red and they look beautiful. The aspens are showing more fall color every day and their leaves have begun to fall to the ground.
- The amur maple on the east side of the
- Horticulture Center in its beautiful fall color.
- Photo taken on September 12, 2006.
The amur maples, narrow-leaf cottonwoods, three-leaf sumacs, box elders, aspens, and black chokeberry are all fully, or very near fully, transformed into their vivid fall colors. Several of the trees, although still showing incredible color, are lightly shedding a beautiful carpet of leaves to the ground beneath them. Recently, the black chokeberry shrubs near the Horticulture Center front entrance hit their peak in a brilliant red. Other plants in the gardens beginning to show fall color are the Arizona willows (Salix Arizonica), American wild plum (Prunus americana), agrimony (Agrimonia striata), and creeping barberry (Mahonia repens).
- The black chokeberry shrubs near the
- entrance to the Horticulture Center. Photo
- taken on September 28, 2006.
One thing sure to be noticed at The Arboretum regarding fall colors is the San Francisco Peaks, whose fall color changes can now be seen from The Arboretum grounds. When viewed from the gardens, the colors can be seen as large patches of yellow here and there along the mountains. To experience the fall colors of the San Francisco Peaks and other areas around town up close, drives along Hart Prairie Road 151 (unpaved) and Snowbowl Road are recommended. Hiking is another great way to experience some wonderful fall colors right now. Some recommended options are Kachina Trail at the top of Snowbowl Road and Little Elden Trail off of Shultz Pass Road. (Refer also to the links below.) Here at The Arboretum, several species of plants are still continuing to change and show wonderful fall color. The daily tours at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. are focusing on the dynamics of fall colors and many of the native plants discussed on the tours are also plants you will see in the areas mentioned above.
- A view of fall colors from Snowbowl.
- Photo taken October 1, 2006. Courtesy of
- Kirsten Novo.
Fall colors at The Arboretum are, for the most part, past their prime due to recent rain and thunderstorms that blew many of the leaves off of the trees and shrubs. Fortunately, there are still some areas of the gardens, like the aspen grove at the front entrance of the Visitor’s Center, that are still in the process of changing. Also, the daily tours at The Arboretum (offered at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.) are still focusing on the dynamics of fall color. Visitors can learn how and why leaves turn a variety of shades and lose their leaves. Other places around town where you can still see beautiful fall colors, are: Lockett Meadow (off Highway 89 north), Wing Mountain (off Highway 180), and the recommended sites in last week’s update are great places to see these colors. It is also important to keep in mind the weather when planning to view fall colors. Thunderstorms and high winds, unfortunately, take the delicate fall leaves off trees easily. There is a 50% chance of rain predicted for this Saturday (10/14/06) in Flagstaff. There is a link provided on the main fall colors webpage to The National Weather Service website to help keep you updated on the weather in the area.
- View of aspen trees next to
- Shade Garden. Photo taken on
- 10/10/2006.