Early Autumn?

tufftie · #1 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 02:59 PM

Is it just me or have other people started noting the trees changing colour too? I know horse chestnut trees are usually early but earlier on today there were oaks and beeches starting to go too. It seems to be more in some places thatn others - round here they are just starting to look like they are about to change but further out towards Worcester they are definitely turning colour.

Kayleigh · #2 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 03:16 PM

I did notice in Scotland the trees were turning I thought then it was a bit early but then it was Scotland..

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 03:22 PM

Nooo... don't mention the A-word! Following that comes the W-word... and I've only just discovered a new meadow nearby - the insects can't start going yet!

I haven't, no. I'll start looking for it though, Oaks you say? Thanks for pointing it out, I'll start looking.

valleyforge · #4 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 03:42 PM

Yes, tops of oaks here also markedly beginning to redden ... and that's also quite early even for Scotland, Kayleigh

.

Nothing obvious in any other local species yet though.

KeenTeen17 · #5 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 05:46 PM

Not Autumn it has only just turned summer

It'll be back to the dark nights and no plants

earthdragon64 · #6 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 06:01 PM

I haven't noticed any trees here starting to turn as yet. I know sometimes leaves can change colour for reasons of drought or disease, not just Autumn.

tufftie · #7 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earthdragon64

I haven't noticed any trees here starting to turn as yet. I know sometimes leaves can change colour for reasons of drought or disease, not just Autumn.

Well definitely not drought round here! Disease - umm..seems a bit to widespread?

tufftie · #8 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 10:13 AM

I've not long come back from a training session in Dorset and around the Blandford area the leaves are mostly starting to change colour too. However, I didn't notice any real changes in Wiltshire - apart from the horse chestnuts.

It does feel Autumnal though - something about the light I think. The light would also have an effect on the trees and plants in an area. Having said that it's now Lammas and it is really Autumn!

Rambling Rob · #9 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 10:59 AM

In the case of the Horse-chestnut earthdragon makes a good point regarding disease. UK Horse-chestnuts are reeling under an infestation of a small brown and white striped moth Cameraria ohridella whose larva the Horse-chestnut Leaf Miner chews between upper and lower surfaces and prematurely kill off the leaves. Interestingly, this is a case of one alien species attacking another. Although a familiar and much loved tree the Horse-chestnut is an alien in Britain, albeit one that has been here for around 400 years. It originated in Northern Greece and, surprise surprise, that is where Cameraria ohridella - first spotted in the UK on Wimbledon Common in 2002 - was also discovered in the 1970s. Distribution maps show it has fanned out from London into East Anglia, the West Country and as far up as North Yorkshire. It's also on the Isle of Wight - here's a picture taken a few days ago:

Rob

wildherbalian85 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tufftie

I've not long come back from a training session in Dorset and around the Blandford area the leaves are mostly starting to change colour too. However, I didn't notice any real changes in Wiltshire - apart from the horse chestnuts.

It does feel Autumnal though - something about the light I think. The light would also have an effect on the trees and plants in an area. Having said that it's now Lammas and it is really Autumn!

I have no idea what lammas is but i do think you are onto something when you talk of the light... or should i say the ack of it.