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Roan Mountain Color Tracker (Jamey Donaldson) report for October 17:
Roan Fall Color Update from October 15, 2013: While it clearly depends on your viewpoint, here are some general trends. Color-rich exceptions to the elevation ranges noted below may be due to variable exposures (north, south, etc.) and moisture regimes (hot and dry vs. cool and shady and other combinations). And don’t forget the oaks at lower elevations (Northern Red and Scarlet Oaks putting on fine display).
On the Tennessee side of Roan Mountain as generally viewed from highway 143 driving up to Carvers Gap: keep an eye out for the Staghorn Sumac peaking around 4000 feet elevation.
Fall colors are generally peaking from 3500-4500 feet elevation with dominant yellows finally sharing the slope with richer oranges and reds of maples. Although many other trees have dropped leaves above 4000 feet, Sugar Maples are finally starting to show richest colors in this range.
Colors are past peak above 5000 feet, lots of trees lost leaves due to high winds last 1-2 weeks, including the bronze Beeches which are marcescence (tardily deciduous) under normal conditions.
Up on the balds, the golden graminoids (grasses and sedges) are highlighted with gentian blues and blueberry reds really standing out among the goldenrods and blue and white fall asters.
At higher elevations, most yellow seems due to birches (or White Ash and maples that haven’t run full course). At lower elevations, most of yellow due to Tuliptree (Yellow Poplar). Also at lower elevations, maples, Sourwood, and Blackgum will fully develop their red arrays if we are lucky.
Roan Mountain Color Tracker
Information from Jamey Donaldson, October 17, also posted on Blue Ridge Parkway Daily.com.
Detailed Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Colors Tracker
Notice when you scroll down through the Parkway reporting sites, that Roan Mountain has been included on the 305 Milepost along with Grandfather Mountain.
(Thank you Eric.)
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