Almost Autumn?

[sunnydale]

I thought I'd seen a thread with this title but can't seem to find it now...

Anyway, I saw this beech tree yesterday



Is this a sign of an 'early Autumn', or is there something wrong with this tree?
I also noticed a few Horse Chestnut trees turning yellow and the Birch in my garden is turning too!

Seems a little early to me. What's going on?

[tufftie]

Quite a lot of the trees in the Wyre Forest all seem to be turning into autumnal colours too. Just found it - it's in the wildflowers forum

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by sunnydale

I thought I'd seen a thread with this title but can't seem to find it now...

Anyway, I saw this beech tree yesterday



Is this a sign of an 'early Autumn', or is there something wrong with this tree?
I also noticed a few Horse Chestnut trees turning yellow and the Birch in my garden is turning too!

Seems a little early to me. What's going on?

The Horse Chestnuts are likely affected by large scale insect infestation. Spring this year was notably dry and temperatures for spring and early summer have been 2 degrees C up on the 30 year average. These climatic conditions are enough to induce both drought and heat stress in some trees, in some locations.

Autumn leaf colour change is rarely typified by a sudden, even change of colour across a whole tree; instead a series of changes are noticeable across the canopy. I don't know what is affecting the beech in your photo but in IMO it's not early seasonal senescence. Various forms of stress will cause leaf colour changes and a young tree in an isolated situation would be vulnerable to both heat and/or drought stress.

CM

[aland]

Forget it, I have not had summer yet, aland,

[Susie]

Definite signs of autum around today on the trees. A group of cherry trees were turning a beautiful colour and some poplars (I think) seemed to have lost quite a few leaves.

[galanthus]

I've been 'smelling' autumn for around 2 weeks now, combination of bracken, leaves, pine etc all starting to turn and a fine trace of smoke from log fires in the air. I love autumn

[FungiJus]

It's that time again when everyone starts to grumble about the nights drawing in and a chill in the air - They just don't get it when I'm delighted that it's raining - It's fantastic (if your'e a fungiphile that is!).

J.

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by FungiJus

It's that time again when everyone starts to grumble about the nights drawing in and a chill in the air - They just don't get it when I'm delighted that it's raining - It's fantastic (if your'e a fungiphile that is!).

J.

Seconded

[Squirrel1970]

Yep, there are definite signs of Autumn in the air - and anywhere else you want to look

The trees here have been the first to turn... a month ago, a yellowish tinge to the leaves and of course, mornings turning out to be a little cooler and the remaining summer heat coursing through to late afternoon...

The birds 'went quiet' about the same time too. I've noticed that families of great tits and blue tits generally stay together until about this time and now, they're turning up one by one to the feeder - provided the weather is good... I reckon mine are a fussy lot who don't want to get their plumage wet - not good for them until they've fully moulted... so its understandable.

I've already also seen geese flying out - not just once, but at least several small groups. They just *KNOW* it's time.

The swifts - a familiar sight here, darting and sweeping in the thermals are no more for the rest of this year, time for them to make their departures to warmer climes.

There are plenty of butterflies still. Big ones, small ones and all ones I can't name, but would know for their beauty. Blackberries ripen outside in the flowerbed - the best I've seen here for a long time! It makes me want to wonder if we're in for a bad winter...

Magpie families and Jays still frequent the garden, although, one of the magpies - a possible late arrival for the anxious parents, has feathers missing here and there and a downy growth coming through to fill the gaps, and a limp... and the obvious nickname of 'Hoppity Bob'.

The damp weather (ok, WET weather!) has served the insect population well and in turn, the bird population. I reckon another few weeks, the insects will be seeking out places to shelter for the winter and the birds will be looking for alternative food sources once the seasons berries begin to deplete.

Then Autumn will get those glorious colours going for sure - the vast colourchart of amazing yellows right through to bright red, crimson and purples so deep, they make the leaves look black...

I'd say that Autumn was my favourite season. Underneath each shedded leaf is a new leaf waiting for the right moment... and with winter slowing that growth down to times when it is warmer, then the bare branches that form that let light in on the darkest of winter days, will be the bearer of many leaves the next year and instead, provide much needed shelter.

Yup.. Autumn is in the air

[And]

I'm in the North East of England and Autumn is DEFINITELY here - trees are starting to change colour, the weather has been awful, spiders moving indoors at a brisk rate and crane flies have been around for ages. There are predatory cats locally (expletives deleted) which makes monitoring bird activity difficult but all trees are bearing heavy berry crops as they did last year when we had a tough winter.