Fall Color Reports

Rock Island

• After a week of gusty winds, we will finally be getting a drought busting rain event this week.
• Most of the trees have dropped all foliage.
• Most of the crops are out of the fields, and the prairies are all mostly brown now as well. 
• Oaks, hickories, and a few maples are still holding orange and brown foliage. 
• This will likely be the last week to see any color change in the district.

Wilmington

• Oaks continue their beautiful shades of red, orange, yellow and the occasional splash of green.
• Hickories are done, as have been walnut and sassafras.
• Hackberry are for the most part done, although in isolated areas where protected from the wind there are a few with yellowish brown hangers on.
• Some catalpas remain in their greenish-yellow robe, while others are the typical brown-yellow foliage seen this time of year.
• Sugar maples are red, orange and yellow in areas, while red maples are waning but still spectacularly red, purple, and orange with the occasional splash of yellow.
• Native shrubs are for the mostly done for the year, including dogwood species, witch hazel, and hazelnut.
• Native vines still in color include smilax and leather flower, while the most common in the woods such as virginia creeper, poison ivy, and grape are done.

Second week of October

Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Brown, Scott, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, and St Clair counties

• Strong winds and heavy rains this past week have accelerated leaf fall significantly.
• Some areas are still showing vibrant fall colors, particularly where there are dense populations of sugar maple trees.
• Other areas are displaying a rusty-brown-yellow-red appearance.
• Some regions are now completely barren of leaves with no fall color whatsoever.
• Sugar maple, sassafras, and sumac continue to be the main attractions in local woodlands and landscapes, although their color has faded compared to last week.
• A number of individual pecan and oak trees remain predominantly green.
• Hackberry, mulberry, silver maple, catalpa, honey locust, boxelder, pecan, hickory, and osage orange have turned yellow and are actively shedding leaves.
• The majority of sumac, black haw, sassafras, dogwood, and virginia creeper vines have turned red and are shedding leaves.
• Sycamore trees are showing orange and are beginning to shed leaves.
• Most hybrid red maple and sweet gum trees in urban areas are showing red (some sweet gum trees are showing yellow).
• Ash trees have turned and are actively shedding leaves, showing orange, red, yellow, and purple hues.
• Sugar maple trees have turned and are actively shedding leaves, displaying red, yellow, gold, and orange colors.
• The majority of black oak and shingle oak have turned yellow, while white oak and red oak are showing red.
• Although there are still some spots of beautiful fall color throughout the region, this week is likely to mark the end of the fall color season for 2024.

Scenic Fall Drive on the Great River Road This Week

• From Grafton, IL, take State Highway 100 north past Pere Marquette State Park.
• Turn west on State Highway 16.
• Follow State Highway 16 across the Hardin Bridge to Hardin, IL, or after turning west, take the Eldred/Hillview Blacktop north.
• Follow it through Eldred and Hillview until you reach State Highway 106.
• Scenic drive through Pere Marquette Park offers picturesque overlooks and vibrant fall colors.
• Detour off the main route is worthwhile.
• Side trips down Township roads in western Jersey, Greene, and Scott Counties are also full of fall color.

Late October

Fern Clyffe State Park

• Most trees have expressed their fall color at this point in Southern Illinois. 
• There is an abundance of yellow with blends of reds and oranges across the forests. 
• Oaks are still slow to change, but have started to turn hues of red.

End of October