September 30, 1962 - The Miracle of Fall ColorThe Miracle of Fall Color
Exclusive Sunday Review Sketch by Dennis Puleston of Brookhaven
Focus on Nature by Paul Stoutenburgh, Cutchogue
By HENRY NYE
Last year we had the pleasure
of having Mr Henry Nye, Direc-
tor of the Bayard Cutting Ar-
boretum in Oakdale, write an
article concerning that interest-
ing and fascinating place. This
year he brings us a timely report
on the how and whys of fall
coloration. We are lucky indeed
add to our column. ps.
Each year, come Fall, the days
lengthen, the nights become
cooler as the autumn pageant of
autumnal color unfolds.
In North America, the re-
gion distinctive for the most bril-
liant fall color, extends from the
Gulf of St Lawrence to Florida
and westward to the Great
Pains. Within this area are ex-
tensive deciduous forests having
considerable rainfall. Here t h e
climate provides what is neces-
sary to produce the miracle of
Fall color.
It is frequently e r r o n e ously
stated "You need a good frost
to bring out the color in t h e
leaves." Not so, 'because along
the south shore of 'Long Island
the papperidge becomes brilliant
in the swampy places by mid
August, long before the killing
frosts. In these low spots, cold
air settles on still nights and the
pepperidge becomes one of the
first to herald the miracle of Fall
color.
In. •some years; Fall color is
more pronounced, than in others.
For example, the past two years"
did, not produce. outstanding dis-
plays of color. There are plants
whose leaves turn yellow but it
is the orange-reds that produce
and highlight the phenomenon of
Fall color. •
The. weather is # p r i,n c i p all
factor in the :chemical, trans• "or -
oration . that takes place withip
each leaf. Wa-rn sunny days, fol-
lowed by cool nights, accom-
panied, by moderate rainfall, as-
sfst the food- factories within the
leaves. On the other hand, an un-
u`suai "y warn') Fall, with consid-
erable rainfall, resfric +s the for-
tion of bright colors in the' Rhiladelphia Vireo
m
inaawe •Vireo
The casual observer knows 'Mal I` e'lpv throated Vrreo
211E trees db not 'display 't i n { e'c�' n'�ack- '�led • Cuckoo :n;. .,r .
a Least Flycatcher
foliage in the Fall. The A I Cl e'�
and- w rio.v shore+ `li fle` c h a'rt e e `' Ye ow hek! ecj. .Flycatcher .
except for 3x4ttering of • :•'ellow ; S`Ite-mpber 12 -18
leaves Elm.'lickory ant! Llndcin'
show tints'tlrat''are a mixtu`re'o'f
rus y green and ye'Iow, and oc-
casionally pure yellow. u n: d e r
favrra.b'e conditions. The Tulip -
tree, Mi bexry,',Gingko, Beech
ctrl ] ,re:res chanSe to yellow in
different ; shades. But the miracle;
of Fall color in the Eastern
United States results mostly from
.certain types of trees and shrubs,
like Sassafras, Maples, 0 a k s,
Sumac, Sourwood and Pepperidge
that are outstanding f o r t h e i r
Fall color.
. The needles of a few so- called
deciduous evergreens, like t he
Metasequoias and the • Lire h,
change color and drop their
needles in the Tall. Many coni-
ferous evergreens have needles
that turn yellow, turn brown and
drop, but this is a normal shed-
ding process.
Spring may excel in variety of
bloom, summer in lushness of
growth, but Fall is dominant in
wealth of fruits' as well as in
the brilliance of Fall color.
In open fields, Goldenrod and
Asters present a beautiful picture
while the graceful ferns a r e
changing to a russet brown.
What will the Gray Squirrels
do following two years of a
shortage of acorns? Some of the
old timers claim "this means a
cold winter." At least for t h e
Squirrels it means short rations.
Our world of nature is richly
peopled with 'trees, shrubs, and
birds and now and then we are
priviledged to listen to the wis-
dom that is theirs.
FIELD OBSERVATIQNS
D Puleston and H Halama report:
Ouogue Beach — September '19
Pigeon Hawks (7)
Mourning Warbler
Northern Shrike
Sapsucker
Palm Warblers (12)
Parula Warbler
Bay- breasted Warl-'rr
L R Ernest reports:
Beach road east of Shinnecock
Inlet Sap ember• 12 -18:
Peregrine Falcon
r obper's Hawk
Magnolia Warbler
Blackbirnian Warbler
Black-throated Blue. Warble_
Wilson's • Warbler
'Nashville. Warbler
L. Chat (2)
Red breasted Mergansers
Waite - wine =•d• Scoters
American Widgeon
Woodcock •
Judd Bennett reports: •
East Marian —S :ptember -4 '25
Great 1- Iorned Owl
Junco
Wood Pewee
Phoebe
Chestnut -sided Warbler
Parula Warbler
Rose - breasted Grosbeak
Scarlet Tanager
Black and White Warbler
Olive- backed Thrush
Magnolia Warbler
Northern Water - thrush
House Wren
Baltimore Oriole
Palm Warbler
White - winged Scoter
Spotted Sandpiper
YellowNbellied Sapsucker
Black -poll Warbler
Black- throated Green Warbler
Red - breasted Nuthatch
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
White - throated Sparrow
Wilson's Warbler