WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? On my neighbor’s property is a tall smoothbark hickory tree that stands above the surrounding forest canopy. Climbing to its top offers a great view–east towards the Rondout Valley and Shawangunk Ridge and northwest towards the Catskills. I snapped a photo in late summer–probablyContinue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Fall foliage is underway. I have 2 red maples in my yard that are beginning to turn. I realize we had some bad drought this summer, but we could still be in good position for a nice fall foliage season. We’re looking for cool,Continue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? This is my favorite time of year. The weather isn’t miserably hot and things are coming to “fruition” in the form of actual fruit and moving deer. Fall is known for its spectacular colors in turning foliage. After staring for hours from my tree-standContinue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Here is one of the most under-rated fall foliage trees I know of–the sassafras tree. Although it is a smaller and shorter-lived tree than others, it makes it up in a few ways. The fragrant smell from one of its twigs and roots isContinue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Foliage this year has been exceptional. Beyond the beautiful golds of sugar maple and reds of red maple, are yellow birch and American beech that are giving sugar maple a run for its money with their beautiful golds. Another tree with beautiful dark redContinue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Fall foliage is peaking here in eastern Delaware County. The yellow or golden fall foliage of sugar maple and the brilliant reds of red maple are something to slow down and stop to look at. If you miss the foliage in the upper elevations,Continue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Well, it’s already happening; Fall is settling in despite what the calendar says. Nights are getting cooler and the deer’s red summer coats are growing darker and longer for winter. I noticed this black gum leaf turning it’s beautiful scarlet red. It was theContinue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Fall foliage is pretty much done in central Ulster County barring some oak trees. A couple of weeks ago I snapped this photo of a sassafras tree. Normally they seem to turn a brilliant gold, showing up any sugar maple tree. However, this year,Continue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Maple trees–red and sugar–are beautiful; They give us those brilliant red and golds. However, maple seems more finicky and sensitive to wind and rain and loses its leaves after a storm. Oaks aren’t as bright, but beautiful in their own rite. White oak hasContinue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Fall foliage is spotty this year. Some sugar maples look pretty good and have that bright golden color. However, it seems only the youngest and healthiest trees are showing nice foliage. Most sugar maples I’m seeing so far are turning a brown color, probablyContinue Reading