YAKIMA, Wash. – The autumn equinox has officially arrived, marking the beginning of fall and bringing a chill to the air. In Yakima, the Arboretum is already showcasing the early stages of leaf color changes, with more vibrant colors expected by mid to late October.
Brandon Lawhorn from the National Weather Service shared some insights on the seasonal changes.
“Leaves that have more of that direct sunlight will turn more red, have more of those red and indigo colors, whereas those that do not have as much direct sunlight or are in kind of more shaded areas may be more yellow in color…If you start to see more below-freezing nights, that can cause the leaves to actually kind of wither and fall off the tree without having the ability to change color,” said Lawhorn.
Lawhorn added that the region will experience warmer temperatures in the coming week, which could enhance the fall foliage.
“Above normal temperatures certainly say like, ‘hey, there is a potential for those more vibrant fall foliage colors,’” he said.
Yakima Valley has been recognized by USA Today as the sixth-best destination in the country for fall travel, offering a variety of seasonal activities and scenic views. Garrett Brenden, education director at the Yakima Area Arboretum, highlighted the unique experiences available during this time.
“The Fresh Hop Ale Fest, the different events going on at the wineries, and just all around. There are so many things to do, but there are a lot of things to see. Here at the arboretum, the maple collection is a great kind of mass color change, but then we also have our large willow that will drop a ton of leaves that make some great leaf piles. Other trees will just be losing their leaves at different times and changing colors,” said Brenden.
Brenden emphasized that autumn is an ideal season to explore the outdoors, both in the mountains and local green spaces like the arboretum.
“Fall is one of the most rewarding times to get out, especially up in the mountains, but also in your local green spaces like the arboretum here, because there’s a lot to see out there that you might not have seen before because you were just wanting to relax or take the cold season off. But there’s so much out here to check out,” he said.
As the leaves reach their peak colors next month, the Yakima Area Arboretum will host fall walks to allow visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery up close.
