Leaves aren't changing colors quite yet for Utica, Herkimer areas – Utica Observer Dispatch

Leaves aren’t changing colors quite yet for Utica, Herkimer areas  Utica Observer Dispatch

Early hints of orange, yellow and red leaves are appearing in parts of New York as fall foliage begins to emerge. People in the Utica and Herkimer areas will have to wait a bit longer to see the full colors. New York state on Wednesday released its first weekly fall foliage report of the year, noting the “first signs of spectacular seasonal colors” in parts of the Empire State. The report shows little to no change yet for the Utica and Herkimer areas. The most significant color changes this week are expected in the Adirondacks, according to field reports, including areas around Tupper Lake, Long Lake and Old Forge. Each year, New York's Department of Economic Development releases weekly foliage reports throughout the fall, broken down by region.

The Adirondacks are typically among the first areas in New York to see peak foliage, followed by the Catskills. The New York City and Long Island areas are among the last regions to experience significant color changes. According to Nina Bassuk, professor emerita at Cornell University and an expert in horticulture, yes. “We’ve had an unusually wet summer,” she said. “This could impact fall colors in two ways. With greater rainfall, tree leaves will stay on the trees longer, potentially allowing for more time for fall color to develop, albeit a little