Leaf Color To Peak This Week

Last updated on Tuesday, October 20, 2015

(UNDATED) - Hoosiers can expect another two weeks of good leaf color from trees across the state. That’s according to experts from Brown County State Park and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

The cold snap this weekend could expedite the process, turning any remaining green leaves to bright yellows, oranges and reds.

Kevin Snyder, assistant property manager at Brown County State Park says the changing scenery, especially during the fall, is what keeps visitors coming back.

"That's kind of the unique thing about the vistas; you can look out there right now, and come back in an hour, and something's going to look different whether it's the sky, the lighting, the reflection off the leaves," he says.

A DNR report says even though southern Indiana is experiencing a lack of moisture, trees are expected to show a wide range of color through of the rest of the season, peaking this week.

The Brown County Leaf Camera is up and filming and can be found on the Brown County Convention Visitors Bureau website, www.browncounty.com, where it updates every 15 minutes.

Jim Eagleman, an Indiana Department of Natural Resources employee and a naturalist at Brown County State Park, says lower temperatures and less sunlight shut down photosynthesis, causing leaves to change colors, it's only a matter of time before they fall off and the picturesque views disappear for another year.

A freak snowstorm in early fall can also cause trees to lose their leaves faster. Trees start preparing for winter as early as the middle of summer, so once the temperature drops past a certain point, the leaves follow suit. The trees do this so they can conserve water.

The leaf cam will be up until November, when it becomes the snow cam, but the feed will only be turned on when it's snowing.

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