Fall Colors

As the weather gets colder, the green summer leaves that annually change to shades of red, yellow and orange are expected to be especially vivid this year due to the rainy weather in the past weeks, said Susan Douglas, an interpretive naturalist at Brown County State Park.\nIn comparison with previous years, Douglas said viewers can expect to see an earlier change to brighter colors because of the large amount of rain that decreased the trees' access to sunlight. She said the next two weeks will be the best time for leaf viewing. In three to four weeks she predicts the trees will start losing their leaves.\nDouglas said early morning is the best time to view the leaves.\n"You can see the haze over the hills and it's just a really neat time," she said.\nAccording to the Department of Natural Resource's Leaf Line, the leaves of black walnut, sumac, tulip and hickory trees have already begun to change color. Non-tree plants such as poison ivy and Virginia creeper vines have also begun to change to red and orange.\nWorkers in the area have already noticed an increase in visitors over the past few weeks.\n"Something about Oct. 1 brings everybody out," Douglas said.\nKate Mejaski, communications manager for Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said southern Indiana receives about 60 percent of its visitors in the fall, with October being the busiest month. Even though there has been a nation-wide decline in tourism over the past few years, tourism has remained steady. She credits this to the fall foliage and the many events that have sprung up because of it.\nOngoing events include scenic drives, hiking, horseback riding, hay rides and mountain biking. This weekend, Oct. 17-19, is the Autumn Festival in Brown County. There are also fish frys and corn roasts. The nature center at Brown County State Park offers several tree hikes. Last Saturday morning they put on a leaf pressing program. Oct. 25 is Fall Extravaganza Day, with lots of activities going on around the nature center.\nMejaski said a majority of the hotels are already booked for the next few weekends this month, but spots still remain open during the week and in early November.\nBoth Douglas and Mejaski recommend visiting Brown County State Park for the best spots to view the leaves.\n"There are several outlooks you can drive to, and a couple of vistas from which you can see out 10 to 17 miles," Douglas said. "Or you could climb the fire tower and see them from there." \nMejaski also recommended Yellowwood State Forest located half way between Bloomington and Nashville.\nSophomore Lauren Dant headed to Oliver Winery Sunday to view the leaves.\nShe said most of the leaves in that area were still green, but some had started to change to yellow, creating a pale look overall.\n"The fall is the perfect temperature and there's always a nice breeze," Dant said. "Even though the leaves hadn't changed much yet, it was still really beautiful to be outside."\n-- Contact staff writer \nHannah Schroder at hschrode@indiana.edu.