Green days are limited; color splash coming

Published 8:13 am Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Ash tree leaves are changing color across south-central Minnesota, which is at between 10 percent and 25 percent of peak fall colors, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Fall Color Finder on Monday.

By contrast, northwestern Minnesota is at or past its peak.

Like Austin, the Twin Cities are still waiting for the big splash of color in its trees.

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Early turners, such as white ash are seeing their  leaves turn yellow or purple Black ash turns yellow and brown.

The DNR also reports that goldenrod, asters, compass plant, indian pipe and other wildflowers are flowering.

According to the Explore Minnesota Fall Color Update: “Peak fall color typically arrives in the northern one-third of the state in mid-September to early October. The central third of the state is most colorful between late September and early October. Southern Minnesota trees reach the height of their fall color late September to mid-October.

“One exception is the North Shore of Lake Superior, where peak fall color arrives about a week later than inland areas due to the warming effect of the lake. “