Those Autumn Leaves... in Ohio

The big ticket tourism for fall colors is always New England. But don't sell Ohio short. With the right mix of hardwoods, Ohio's autumn foliage rivals any place on the continent. Ohio is one of the rare places in the country that boasts a full experience for all four seasons. We have beautiful and mild Springs, warm and humid Summers, cool and picturesque Falls and cold and snowy Winters.

While we have four full seasons, the length of each varies greatly. These seasons can be both envigorating and frustrating, as sometimes the cold of winter can set in well before Thanksgiving and linger until Easter. There are years where Springtime mild temperatures are but a week or two before a hot summer starts. But we also can see cool summers and mild winters. Variety. we have it in abundance and it is that unpredictability that make the seasons in Ohio interesting.

2009 saw a mild summer with few 90-degree days. But September had some early chills and some early frosts and freezes followed by Indian Summer-like temperatures kicked the trees full color mode. The many creeks, streams, rivers and lakes offer beatiful morning vistas, as the previous day's heat lingers as the cool air settles down overnight. A morning stroll along the water's edge will offer a misty view as sun peeks over the horizon. Copley Township's Wolf Creek offers several views such as the one above-left (click to enlarge) over many a September morning.

At first Ohio's foliage slowly turns with a spot of yellow,
red or orange seeping into the greenery of the woods.
It's a subtle start, where one isn't sure if this will be all
we get or if the colors will be bold and vibrant. This
year the oranges peeked into Northeast Ohio
first (see left, click to enlarge).

The southern and eastern halves of Ohio have rolling landscapes, as the Appalachian foothills spill into the eastern edge of central and southern Ohio. As the leaves begin to move into various oranges and reds, the rolling hills give a spectacular view. Even along the water's edge of Springfield Lake in Summit County, the little Village of Lakemore (below, click to enlarge) looks as if it is from a Normal Rockwell inspired town nestled into New Hampshire.

Those many lakes and streams in Ohio also serve as a great source of reflection for the splendors of the autumn colors. Some of the trees that defoliate early in spring bare a sense of winter foreshadowing against the greens, yellows, oranges and reds that are deepening as fall unfolds (see right, click to enlarge). The State of Ohio Department of Natural Resources offers driving tour suggestions for the different regions of the state as well as "peak foliage" charts on their websites.

Almost without warning, suddenly the reds splash through the spectrum of colors of the trees. Sugar maples, oaks and cherry trees burst on the scene, supplemented by other bushes, like Burning Bushes (see right, click to enlarge), and vines, such as Virginia Creeper, that join in the hue. Rain can even lend a sheen to the leaf and bring out the deep array of colors. Trees that often are overlooked during spring and summer become celebrities, even a simple maple in the courtyard of a building (see left, click to enlarge).

As October continues along, the yellow, golds and oranges deepen. 2009 has seen a very deep and rich orange end of the color spectrum. From the same vantage point as the above misty morning on Wolf Creek, a striking difference in the color palate is seen just a few weeks later on a bright and sunny day (see right, click to enlarge). Many Ohio county government and tourist agencies tout autumn trips along many of the riverscapes in the state. Lake County's Soil and Conservation District teamed with the Visitor's Bureau to sponsor tours of the streams and watersheds, nurseries and wineries in the county.

There are numerous parks throughout the state where one can take in the natural beauty on short -- or long -- hikes through woods. The only National Park in the state is the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, but to the far southeast in the state the Wayne National Forest will match the fall colors of the Valley. There are 73 Ohio State Parks (available from the Ohio State Parks website), major metropark system for the big cities in the states and countless municipal and township parks scattered throughout the 88 counties. The vibrant yellows pushing through the late turning greens are seen above right in the Firestone Metropark of the Summit County Metroparks system.

And even in Ohio our evergreen trees get into the game and show off a splash of color. On display at a local nursery is a form of evergreen that too changes colors as fall gives way to winter (see right, click to enlarge). The rusty color starts at the tips and spreads back toward the center of the leaf, leaving a bright green inner tracing on the leave.

But the beauty of the season will soon pass into the cold winter. How long and how deep with the cold be? As always, it's hard to predict. Ohioans like four seasons, but we don't always like them lasting beyond their time and in general "mild" is a nice way to enjoy the winter and the summer months.

Spring and Fall do not always last as long as we want, but while it is here we try to enjoy it as best as we can. And when the colors of fall are as vibrant as they have been in 2009, it gives one solace to think that should your final resting place be in Ohio even the cemetery can have all the splendor of nature's fall foliage on display (see left, click to enlarge).

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall
- Johnny Mercer, "Autumn Leaves"

- J.