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These Ozark Woods In October

© Renie Burghardt

It is the first week of October, and I walk to the woods at the top of the hill, beyond the small, goldenrod and aster covered field and the pond reflecting the red leafed dogwoods that encircle it. Even after a hot, dry summer, the shorter, mild days and cooler nights have begun to induce the trees to go through their chemical change. I've read that the best conditions for a good showing of color are the right amount of moisture and falling but not freezing temperatures, and these we've had, lacking only the moisture. However, some abundant, blessed rain finally fell yesterday, washing layers of summer dust off the leaves.

Actually, dry weather increases the sugar concentration in the sap, which then reacts to form anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are the pigments that cause the yellowing leaves to turn red. So the brightest fall colors occur when dry, sunny days are followed by cool, dry nights. Those who know, also say that the degree of color can vary from tree to tree. The color, in fact, of the same tree may even vary from year to year. Some leaves more exposed to the sun may turn red, while the same tree in a more shady spot will be yellow.

A warm rainy fall is not beneficial for good color. An early hard frost will kill the leaves before they have a chance to complete their final shut-down. Torrential rains will also destroy foliage since the color bearing chemicals in the leaves are water soluble. So heavy rain, besides knocking the fragile leaves off the tree, may also wash out much of the color, and we all know what heavy winds can do to leaves. A beautiful display of color depends on a magical combination of sunlight, soil nutrients, and cool nights- in other words, plain old luck!

In my woods, the tall species like the oaks and hickories form the main canopy over my head. Now, as the first week of October comes to a close, they are still mostly green with hints of russet and gold. The shorter understory trees like dogwoods, sassafras, persimmon and staghorn sumac that are the early showers around here, glow with with their vibrant reds, crimson, yellows and oranges in the lower casting Autumn light. It is a good morning for a walk. The three dogs think so too, as they bound into the woods ahead of me, noses to the ground.