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Fall splendor

Vibrant fall colors to be seen in north central Iowa

-Submitted photo
Fall colors have returned to north central Iowa. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, walnut, ash, elms, and hackberries have started to turn yellow. Some hard maples have started to turn orange.

It’s apple picking and hayride season, which means that peak fall color season is also near.

According to Erin Ford, naturalist for Webster County Conservation, the peak time for fall colors to appear in north central Iowa is mid-October.

Ford said residents don’t need to travel far to enjoy the changing of the season as fall colors can be seen while biking the trail at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, driving off-highway-vehicles at the Gypsum City OHV Park, hiking Woodman Hollow State Preserve or Camp Wa No Ki, horseback riding at Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, and even kayaking the Des Moines River.

“The views at each of these locations are beautiful,” said Ford. “You have the opportunity to look over, be in the middle of, and be outside looking back at a mix of different tree species for a variety of colors.”

According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, walnut, ash, elms, hackberry, and cottonwood trees have started to turn yellow in north central and northwest Iowa. Some hard maple trees have also begun to turn red and orange.

The DNR says that stress, like the lack of rain in August and September, may actually brighten fall colors.

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