The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Discover season’s beauty
As warm summer days give way to cool mornings and evenings, autumn approaches with a host of events and opportunities to celebrate the season.
“It’s hard to tell whether it will be a good color year or not until October. We need a series of bright and sunny days without a freeze for the leaves to begin to turn. If we have a lot of cool and cloudy days the colors won’t be as bright.” Holden Arboretum’s Charles Tubesing
It’s only a matter of time until another winter blows across Northeast Ohio and coats, scarves hats and gloves are retrieved to help cope as shovels and salt stand by to help us stay mobile. But until then we have a glorious, color and event-filled autumn to look forward to with a cool breeze to encourage getting out and about.
Leaves already are crunching underfoot as they fall from the lofty heights where they provided shade during the summer.
Charles Tubesing, plant collections curator at the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, explains what’s happening when fall color transforms our landscapes for a few weeks each fall.
“It’s hard to tell whether it will be a good color year or not until October,” he said. “We need a series of bright and sunny days without a freeze for the leaves to begin to turn. If we have a lot of cool and cloudy days the colors won’t be as bright.”
The sunshine, combined with shorter days, reduces the chlorophyll in leaves and allows the yellow and orange pigments, called carotenoids, to come through, he said. Trees with anthocyanins in their leaves turn various shades of red and purple.
The Arboretum has a Leaf Trail aimed at school children assigned to collect and identify fall leaves. Signs along the way help everyone know what they are seeing.
“A zone of several layers of cells (called an abscission zone) is present at the base of each leaf stalk,” Tubesing explained. “In the fall, the tree induces enzymes to digest the cells in that zone,
which causes the leaf to drop. Some trees drop all their leaves in just a few hours while other drop them a little at a time starting in early September,” he said.
Those charges with picking up the leaves so they don’t kill the lawn over winter, play an annual guessing game to get the leaves but beat the snow.
Birches, tulip trees, hickories, aspen and other poplars turn yellow, while red, orange and purple trees are likely to be black gum (tupelo), sweetgum, flowering dogwood, maples and oaks,” he notes.
Tubesing said many of our metroparks have fine places to see fall color, but one of the best is the Holden Arboretum’s Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberber Family Emergent Tower where forest views all the way to Lake Erie can be seen.
Here in Northeast Ohio nature’s palette unfolds beginning in early October, as its maples and other hardwoods show shades of russet and gold, gradually darkening into reds beyond descriptions.
For Vanessa Klesta of the Lorain County Park District, it’s hard to beat the fall foliage on a walk into Bur Oak Park. “
When crossing the Black River on the 1,000 foot old railroad bridge, the reflection of the trees on the water is breathtaking,” she said.
This bridge is the highlight of the Bridgeway Trail and offers captivating views of the river, a scenic railway bridge, shale cliffs on one side and an expanse of bottomlands on the other.
That park is one of the most popular ones in Lorain Metroparks Black River Reservation, which follows the Black River as it meanders from Elyria to Lorain.
Combined, the Bridgeway Trail and Steel Mill Trail total more than five miles of paved all-purpose trails spanning four city jurisdictions.
You pass through meadows and forest groves, under bridges and over the treetops on a 1,000-foot bridge that crosses the river in two places.
Those unable to walk themselves can take a tram to see the changing landscape and hear a bit of the fascinating history behind this reservation.
“For those wishing a great Sunday drive, we have a beautiful scenic route along the Back Roads and Beaches Multi Sport Route,” Klesta said.
It extends south from Vermilion to Oberlin and beyond, leading along the lakefront and quiet rural roads. “There are plenty of great stops and quaint towns along the way,” she said. Get details at www. visitloraincounty.com/ back-roads-and-beaches/ route-map/
“The Carlisle Equestrian Center has horse drawn fall hay wagon rides through Oct. 7,” she added. Reservations are needed but the rides are only $1. Call 440-458-5121.
Fall color is everywhere in Lake County and its most extraordinary views are found in Lake Metroparks, with more than 50 miles of hiking trails. Pick a park with a shelter and make a picnic out of it.
Here are some favorite hikes Chapin Forest Reservation
With a panoramic view of everything from Lake Erie to the Cleveland skyline, the view of fall colors is one of the best overlooks anywhere.
Enter from state Route 306 (Chillicothe Road in Kirtland ) and drive to the end of the parkway. Lucky Stone Loop Trail (1.5 miles) begins at the cul de sac/Ledges picnic area and takes you to the highest elevations in the park. Enter from Hobart Road in Waite Hill and access Arbor Lane Loop Trail from the parking lot. Hike this gravel trail until it intersects with Lucky Stone Loop; hike to the overlook and enjoy the panoramic view described above.
Lake Erie Bluffs
Enter through Lane Road or Clark Road.
Lake Erie Bluffs showcases the natural wonder of Lake Erie in Lake County’s front yard. In addition to the more than three miles of trails, a 50-foot coastal observation tower overlooks the lakeshore with multiple viewing platforms along a staircase that culminates in a deck featuring 360-degree views. The height and location of the tower provide visitors with a unique view of the lake and the surrounding woods, fields and wetlands.
Girdled Road Reservation (Skok Meadow)
Enter from State Route 608/Concord Hambden Road in Concord Township
Stroll Skok Meadow Loop Trail (1.09 miles) to the scenic overlook and deck. A meadow of 30 acres of native wildflowers unfolds before you with many flowers blooming through late summer and into the fall. Enjoy this peaceful view with the backdrop of trees lining the Big Creek valley.
Hell Hollow Wilderness Area
Enter from Leroy Center Road in Leroy Township
Walk Beech Ridge Loop Trail (0.5 mile) to a stunning overlook of the Paine Creek valley, more than 200 feet below. From this unique view, the breathtaking beauty of the season stretches out before you.
Hidden Valley Park
Enter from Klasen Road in Madison
Take the River Breeze Trail, a riverside trail with excellent views of the forested hillside on the opposite bank. The display of colors never ends along the entire half-mile trail.
Hogback Ridge Park
Enter from Emerson Road
Few areas of this park offer the viewing vistas of some of the other parks, but here you walk through the colors. From the start of the Hemlock Ridge Loop Trail to the finish, fall colors will surround and envelope you. Come on a sunny day when the yellow leaves are at peak color and everything in the forest takes on a yellow glow.
Indian Point Park
Enter from the upper parking lot on Seeley Road in Leroy Township
Hike one mile along Point Overlook Loop Trail to Lookout Ridge Scenic Trail, which will provide a spectacular view over the Grand River valley where hillsides will be alive with colorful leaves.
Pete’s Pond Preserve
Enter from Rockefeller Road in Wickliffe.
Follow Carriage Lane Trail (0.56 mile) to reach beautiful vistas seen from two observation decks. The 1.15 mile trail provides exercise and exploration in a 70-acre oasis for suburban wildlife.