Posted by Mike Leakey on October 15, 2006 at 7:45 PM
Can anyone give me a report on fall color in Northern Indiana or Southern Michigan? I'm just north of Indianapolis and the color is not developing very quickly. The brutal winds on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday pretty much blew away any color there was. I'm thinking of taking a few days off this week but I'm not sure if it's worth while.
Thanks,
Mike
Posted by Toni Lankerd on October 15, 2006 at 8:59 PM
I don't know about northern IN, but southwestern MI (Holland/Muskegon area) isn't much right now. We have had winds up to 50mph for a couple days which took down probably at least half the green leaves. Color is only so-so from what I saw today, certainly no trees that are loaded with color yet and rain predicted for most of this coming week.
Posted by Danny Burk on October 16, 2006 at 10:16 AM
I checked around the South Bend area over the weekend; it's pretty dismal. Not worth a trip. Not even worthwhile if you live here!
Anyone...how about the Clifty Falls area? I'm considering a stop there on my way down to the Smokies later this week. Or, would it be better on my way back here on the 29th? Thanks.
Posted by Mike Leakey on October 16, 2006 at 10:31 AM
The Indiana DNR has some leaf cams at:
http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/leafcam/
Brown County SP and Spring Mill don't look too far along right now. My guess is Clifty Falls is about the same.
Danny, if Spring Mill isn't far along, then Clifty probably won't be either. I would suggest a stop on the return, not the way down....
Mike, I drove through the northern Indiana/southern Michigan area on my way back from the Petoskey MI area on the 7th, and the color was spotty at best. I estimated then it was a good 2 weeks from peak, which would be this upcoming weekend, but I think the report Tony offered implies maybe even a bit later....
CJ
Posted by Bernie Kasper on October 16, 2006 at 3:12 PM
The wind was not nearly as bad here as it was in the Northern part of state, still bad enough to knock a few leaves down, I think it will peak around the last week of Oct. or the first week in Nov.
We are getting a lot of rain today so the park should be nice this week as well, hopefully it will stay wet the next three weeks, the colors around this area and the park look to be around 30-40% changed.
Posted by Richard Wong on October 16, 2006 at 7:43 PM
Thanks Bernie, I didn't realize it was asked here as well. We might run into each other at the Falls next week depending on conditions.
Posted by Robert Helms on October 16, 2006 at 7:50 PM
Danny, I would go for a stop on your return from the Smokies. According to the Indy paper today Brown County State Park isn't going to hit peak for over a week yet. I believe they were saying something about the aaahs starting around next weekend.
I know the area where I live ( mid western IN. ) is showing spotty color. Mostly in the form of poplars. The maple outside my door does have some red tinted leaves on it and I even noticed an oak yeasterday that had a very slight sign of upcoming color.
Oddly, I was out about 30 miles north of Terrre Haute four days ago and there was a maple that had turned and lost most of it's leaves already.
With the recent rains and more on the way in my area there may be a better chance of a good amount of water flow for the falls at Clifty on your way down. Providing, of course, they are receiving the same amount of rain.
Enjoy the Smokies and teaching the workshop. Sure wish I could join ya.
Posted by Danny Burk on October 16, 2006 at 10:23 PM
Thanks for the info, everyone. Sounds like what I was thinking, i.e. not much color at Clifty yet. I guess I'll plan to stop on the way back up...which, naturally, will end up being a sunny day again
Posted by Mike Leakey on October 18, 2006 at 3:58 PM
I drove to Chain O' Lakes State Park in the Northeast part of Indiana this morning. I would guess 80% of the leaves are off the trees. It looks like the last week's high winds really took a toll. After a drive through the park I decided it wasn't worth staying.
I then drove to Merry Lea Nature Preserve which I found out about from Christopher Jordan's new book mentioned in another thread. Color wise it was no improvement over Chain O' Lakes but I went ahead and spent some more time there checking things out. Very cool place that I'll try to check out again next year. Not much inspired me today but I did try my luck with a few trees abstracts, one of which is shown here.
On the drive back to Indy I noticed that there is a lot less leaf drop starting in about Marion. However, the color wasn't much to be excited about.
I think I'll try to go south or west of Indy tomorrow, perhaps to Brown, Parke and/or Owens Counties. If anybody has first hand reports from these areas I'd appreciate it.
Mike
Posted by Robert Helms on October 19, 2006 at 7:09 PM
MIke, my day job keeps me inside during the daylight throughout the week. I drove around Vigo, Vermillion and Parke counties today and noticed good color. Good enough for me to get out and shoot some. I'll be back out tomorrow and will try to make it to McCormick Creek State Park. I think that is in Owen or Putnam counties, but I'm not sure. I'm guessing the color is going to hit peak anytime. Now if only the wind would just quit blowing.
Danny, not sure how long your are going to be in the Smokies, but if it is for more than a week I may consider leaving a day early and checking on the color as you drive south. It seems to be really coming on fast. I've noticed a major difference since the last time I was out shooting five or six days ago. This explains the maple I noticed in the previous post without most of it's leaves.
Discussion
10 repliesThanks,
Mike
Anyone...how about the Clifty Falls area? I'm considering a stop there on my way down to the Smokies later this week. Or, would it be better on my way back here on the 29th? Thanks.
http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/leafcam/
Brown County SP and Spring Mill don't look too far along right now. My guess is Clifty Falls is about the same.
Anyone with first hand info?
Mike, I drove through the northern Indiana/southern Michigan area on my way back from the Petoskey MI area on the 7th, and the color was spotty at best. I estimated then it was a good 2 weeks from peak, which would be this upcoming weekend, but I think the report Tony offered implies maybe even a bit later....
CJ
We are getting a lot of rain today so the park should be nice this week as well, hopefully it will stay wet the next three weeks, the colors around this area and the park look to be around 30-40% changed.
I know the area where I live ( mid western IN. ) is showing spotty color. Mostly in the form of poplars. The maple outside my door does have some red tinted leaves on it and I even noticed an oak yeasterday that had a very slight sign of upcoming color.
Oddly, I was out about 30 miles north of Terrre Haute four days ago and there was a maple that had turned and lost most of it's leaves already.
With the recent rains and more on the way in my area there may be a better chance of a good amount of water flow for the falls at Clifty on your way down. Providing, of course, they are receiving the same amount of rain.
Enjoy the Smokies and teaching the workshop. Sure wish I could join ya.
I then drove to Merry Lea Nature Preserve which I found out about from Christopher Jordan's new book mentioned in another thread. Color wise it was no improvement over Chain O' Lakes but I went ahead and spent some more time there checking things out. Very cool place that I'll try to check out again next year. Not much inspired me today but I did try my luck with a few trees abstracts, one of which is shown here.
On the drive back to Indy I noticed that there is a lot less leaf drop starting in about Marion. However, the color wasn't much to be excited about.
I think I'll try to go south or west of Indy tomorrow, perhaps to Brown, Parke and/or Owens Counties. If anybody has first hand reports from these areas I'd appreciate it.
Mike
Danny, not sure how long your are going to be in the Smokies, but if it is for more than a week I may consider leaving a day early and checking on the color as you drive south. It seems to be really coming on fast. I've noticed a major difference since the last time I was out shooting five or six days ago. This explains the maple I noticed in the previous post without most of it's leaves.