Leaves Still Hanging On To Trees Despite Winds On Thursday

With temperatures still hovering in the mid to upper 60s after being in the upper 70s to low 80s a week ago, conditions have not been ideal for fall foliage to emerge until now.  On Thursday, GWC took a tour of several parks across the Central Jersey area, and while many of the trees are still green, the traditional fall colors are coming on.

The recent windy conditions brought about from storm systems last Friday and on Wednesday have not been able to take all of the leaves of trees.  Still looking for temperatures to become crisper in order for more leaves to change color though.  Fall colors seem to be developing faster further north, especially in higher elevations such as Washington Rock in Green Brook at the foot of the Watchung Mountain range.

Heading south to Waterfront Park in South Amboy on the shore of Raritan Bay, the colors are taking longer to emerge.  With the days getting shorter, and colder air from Canada gradually pushing southward, the fall foliage season will eventually peak here in New Jersey.  The fall colors develop when trees begin losing the essential amount of sunlight that allows the chemical process known as photosynthesis to flourish.

A key ingredient in photosynthesis is the chemical compound of chlorophyll.  This ingredient provides the healthy green pigment that is seen in healthy trees when they are at their peak in the summer.  As daylight gets less and less, the amount of cholorphyll in the leaves decrease, and the leaves in the trees start to change color in response.  I have compiled video of the fall foliage from all five sites that I visited today, and will have them all posted to the blog soon.