Fall color is definitely on my list of “favorite things” and I hear this has been one of the best years for color that we have had in a long time. I think its’s due to dry weather without cold windy rain storms making fast work of the process this year. The range and vibrancy of color varies across the country but here in the upper Midwest, it seems our color comes primarily from ash, birch, maple and poplar. As I slowly add new trees to my lake property I am choosing those that provide nice fall color.
Ash trees belong to the Fraxinus genus in which there are 45-60 species with the white, black and green being the most common. For me, the best way to identify a black ash tree is by its alligator like truck and their leaves provide beautiful shades of yellow and burgundy in the fall. Right now, one of my neighbors has several large ash trees shining brightly in shades of yellow.
Birch trees are in the genus Betula family which is closely related to the beech-oak family Fagaceae. There are some 40 species of birch trees that like the cool temperatures of the Norther Hemisphere. They are noticeable for their white bark and provide robust yellow fall color. The best known birch varieties are the gray, paper, river, sweet, yellow and white (silver) birch. This summer, I planted a river birch in a low wet area in my front yard where it should prosper. My next door neighbor’s river birch is huge and has only been in for about 15 years.
Maples are in the genus Acer family made up of many varieties in all shapes, sizes, color and growth. There are both hard (black and sugar) maples and soft (red and silver) maples. The majestic maple, particularly the sugar maple, provides the biggest canopy of red, orange and yellow colored leaves. Their color is highlighted by their, often intricate, lobed leaf structure. The red and silver maples are also quite common in these parts. This year, my landscaper planted several multi-trunk amur maples in my yard which are supposed to provide great fall color so stay tuned.
The Populus genus includes poplars, cottonwoods and aspens. This seems like a very broad category with many disparate looking and growing species. In this area, poplars and cottonwoods are quite common providing lovely gold fall color. Both are fast growing and do well along the lake shore as they can tolerate flooding and erosion. White, eastern, Lombardy and balsam are the most common variety of poplars. Old healthy cottonwoods in our area are usually huge and interestingly shaped (curvy limbs) with a large leaf canopy. My cottonwood is the one and only mature tree on our lot and newer varieties don’t shed cotton which provides wide appeal. The aspen variety is found in mountainous regions at high elevation so are quite prevalent in northern Arizona, where I lived for most of the past 40 years. My girlfriend and I made annual treks into the golden quaking aspen forest around Flagstaff where we enjoyed a little vino and a picnic lunch along with a little painting/writing in the warm fall Arizona sunshine. What heaven to enjoy beautiful fall days no matter where you live; hope you made it out to enjoy a few yourself this year!