Vibrant fall foliage not a guarantee this season

COLUMBIA — The leaves are beginning to change, the football season has started and most students already have a month of classes under their belts. So it may come as no surprise to Columbia residents that summer is over.

Well, it’s almost over.

Fall officially starts at 11:03 tonight when the autumnal equinox occurs. The equinox happens every year at the start of spring and fall. On those days, day and night each last for about 12 hours, and the sun crosses the equator.

Although the colors won’t peak for another few weeks, some leaves around Columbia are starting to change already, said Ann Koenig, an urban forester with the Missouri Department of Conservation.

“Right now the most common trees changing are the vines like grapevine and Virginia creepers and sassafras,” Koenig said.

Sugar maples will show the most brilliant fall colors, Koenig said, but they won’t change until mid-October, and this summer’s drought might affect the vibrancy of many types of trees.

Some leaves are turning brown early because of the dry conditions. That means less fall color because the leaves will drop before the weather conditions are conducive to bright colors, Koenig said. The leaves’ color also suffer if there are high winds or early frosts. “They need bright sunny days with cold nights,” Koenig said. “As far as the drought goes, the trees are very stressed out now before we had cold nights, but the recent rain definitely assisted.”