The Colors of Fall | Bemidji Visitors & Convention Bureau - VCB

The Colors of Fall

Main Menu - About Visit Bemidji | About Bemidji | Accommodations | Attractions | Dining | Events Calendar | Historic Bemidji | Location | Recreation | Shopping | Special Events

Why do the leaves change color? - By mid-July, the days begin to grow shorter. The shortening day is the leaf's signal to prepare for winter cutting circulation. By late August, many plants adjust to the shorter days by reducing their production of chlorophyll, the green color in plants. When chlorophyll is no longer produced, other yellow and orange pigments, that are masked by the green chlorophyll, become visible. As the leaf also stops producing nutrients, sugars are trapped in the leaf, producing the brilliant scarlet and purple hues.

Peak color season in Bemidji usually runs from the third week in September through the first week in October. It is during this two-to-three week period that the fall colors in Bemidji's forests are at their brilliant best.

However, different species of trees will change color and "peak" during various times of the fall color season.

Plan a Fall Color Tour!

	American Elm A large, handsome, graceful tree. Elm leaves 3-6" long and 1-3" wide; turning yellow, in the mid-season.

	Pin Cherry The tiny, sour cherries are used to make jelly and provide food for birds and animals. Leaves 2 1/2-4 1/2" long and 3/4-1 1/4" wide; turning bright yellow or red early in the season. Fruit matures in summer.

	Green Ash Bats and other sporting goods are made from this tough, fine grained, elastic wood. Ash leaves turn gold or yellow early in the season.

	Paper Birch The bark is used to make lightweight canoes. The wood is used for toothpicks and spools. Leaves are oval and long-pointed, turning vivid yellow mid-fall.

	Sugar Maple spring is the season for tapping sugar maples, used to make candies and syrup. Leaves 3 1/2-5 1/2" long and as wide, with 5 sharp lobes. Foliage turns deep red, orange and yellow mid-fall.

	Staghorn Sumac These thick shrubs or small trees are recognized by the hairy twigs and leaves which are almost white underneath. Leaflets are 2-5" long and turn scarlet in fall.

	Bur Oak Recognized by its distinctive fringed, burlike acorns. Leaves narrowly oval with broad, round tips. Turns yellow-brown during mid-fall.

	Black Ash Common in swamps and moist soils, the wood is heavy, brown and tough. Leaves are 12-16" long, with 7 to 13 oblong leaflets. Leaflets are 4-6" long, 1 1/2 wide and turn gold and yellow early in fall.

	American Basswood Basswoods, also called linden trees, are often favored as shade trees. Leaves 3-6" long, and nearly as wide, are rounded or heart shaped; turning pale yellow or brown in mid-color season.

	Choke Cherry While the dark red, astringent fruits are unpalatable when ripe, birds do eat them. Leaves change early in season to yellow red.

	Slippery Elm The "slippery" layer of bark is edible. When dried and moistened, the bark can be used as a cough medicine or poultice. Leaves 4-7: long, turning dull yellow in fall.

	Quaking Aspen Known in France as the "woman's tongue," an allusion to the incessant movement of the leaves. 1 1/2-3" long, the leaves produce the brilliant yellow and gold tones seen late in the season.

	Black Cherry The wood is used in furniture and cabinetry, the bark and fruit for cough syrup, wine and jelly. Leaves are 2-5" long and turn brilliant red and yellow.

	Red Maple Leaves 2 1/2-4" long and about as wide, with 3 shallow lobes. A brilliant display of color is seen in the mid-fall season when the leaves turn fiery scarlet, orange or yellow.

	Red Oak An important timber species used to make furniture, floors, pulpwood, fence posts and pilings. Leaves 4-9" long and 3-6" wide. Turn brown-red shades in mid-color season.