FALL COLOR REPORT FOR WEEKEND OF 11/4- 11/5/00

NORTHERN AND NORTHWEST ILLINOIS - MOST TREE SPECIES HAVE PEAKED WITH THE MAJORITY OF LEAVES FALLEN OR SOON TO BE FALLING. SCATTERED SUGAR MAPLES STILL SHOWING SOME YELLOWS, ORANGES AND REDS BUT DECLINING FAST. OAKS PEAKING WITH SOME DECLINING SHOWING BRONZES, RUSTY RED AND PURPLES.

CHICAGO AREA - MAJORITY OF SUGAR MAPLES DECLINING WITH SCATTERED TREES STILL SHOWING YELLOWS, ORANGES AND REDS. OAKS PEAKING WITH SOME DECLINING SHOWING BRONZES, RUSTY RED AND PURPLES. EXCEPT FOR THE OAKS, THE FALL COLOR SEASON IS OVER FOR THIS YEAR. PEAK FALL COLOR WAS WEEK OF OCTOBER 17 THRU 23RD.

EAST CENTRAL, CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS - MAJORITY OF SUGAR MAPLES AND OTHER COLORFUL TREES HAVE DECLINED THROUGHOUT REGION WITH MOST TREES HAVING DROPPED LEAVES. SCATTERED SUGAR MAPLE IN THE REGION STILL SHOWING GOLDEN YELLOWS, BRIGHT ORANGES AND REDS BUT LOSING LEAVES QUICKLY. SWEETGUM STILL HAVE A MIXTURE OF GREEN, YELLOW, RED AND PURPLE LEAVES BUT ARE BEGINNING TO DECLINE AT THIS TIME. OAKS SHOWING RICH REDS, RUST, BRONZES AND BROWNS. EXCEPT FOR SCATTERED SUGAR MAPLE, SWEETGUM AND OAKS, THE FALL COLOR SEASON IS OVER FOR THIS YEAR PEAK FALL COLOR WAS WEEK OF OCTOBER 21 THRU 25TH.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - SASSAFRAS PEAKING WITH SOME DECLINING SHOWING ORANGES AND REDDISH ORANGES. GREEN ASH (YELLOW AND YELLOWISH-ORANGE), SUGAR MAPLE (YELLOW, ORANGE AND REDDISH ORANGE), BLACK GUM (RED), AND TULIP POPLAR (YELLOW BUT MIXED WITH BROWNS) PEAKING TO DECLINING. PERSIMMON SHOWING YELLOWS AND BRIGHT REDDISH ORANGES PEAKING WITH MANY DECLINING. OAKS ADVANCING TO PEAKING WITH YELLOWS, RICH REDS, ORANGES, BRONZES AND BROWNS SHOWING. PEAK FALL COLOR WAS WEEK OF OCTOBER 29 THRU NOVEMBER 4TH.

UPDATE FOR WEEKEND OF 10/28-10/29/00

PREDICTIONS FROM LAST WEEK REMAIN THE SAME FOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS, THE CHICAGO AREA, EAST CENTRAL, CENTRAL, WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS, AND SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. WINDS IN PORTIONS OF THE STATE (MAINLY NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS CAUSED HEAVY LEAF FALL ON SUGAR MAPLE AND REMAINING GREEN AND WHITE ASH.)