Arboretum will be perfect place to see autumn in its glory
Coming soon to the Morton Arboretum: Explosions of reds, browns, oranges and yellows.
The 1,700-acre private preserve 30 miles west of Chicago is set once again to showcase autumn's beauty with its annual Fall Color Festival in October.
True, leaves turn colors everywhere in Illinois. But the sprawling arboretum offers autumn on a grand scale, with more than 4,000 types of trees, shrubs and plants from 45 countries. Exactly what sort of hues develop depends on weather conditions in the coming weeks.
"All I can say is we've got plenty of different kinds of plants from all over the world - we will definitely have fall color," said Ed Hedborn, a veteran staff botanist who is considered the arboretum's resident expert on leaf-turning.
The fall transformation occurs over a longer period than the festival's one-month span, and arboretum officials say it's not unusual for the same visitors to make several pilgrimages over the course of the season.
The first colors will emerge later this month (September) on what Hedborn calls the "flag-wavers of fall" -- Sumacs that turn bright red. Among the last leaves to color and wither will be those of the Norwegian Maples, which are expected to turn a reddish purple in November, he said.
For visitors who can only make one visit this season, mid-October should be a good time to see a wide variety of colors, says arboretum volunteer Fred McEwen. The retired marketing manager from Naperville said he typically scopes out the colors himself and relays information to guests. But he said he shies away from making predictions in advance.
"This is not an exact science, I can tell you," he said.
What causes leaves to turn color? As winter approaches and days grow shorter, the green chlorophyll within leaves dissipates, highlighting the other pigments that remain.
In contrast, conifer trees, or evergreens, are hearty enough to keep their extremities alive and green during the bitter cold. Hedborn calls them the "tough guys on the block," though they are not always appreciated by fall-color enthusiasts. He said the evergreens actually provide a nice backdrop to the flaming colors of fall.
"I like to remind people: Even green is a color," Hedborn said.
The arboretum, a not-for-profit complex that charges admission, was founded by salt baron Joy Morton in 1922 and is DuPage County's most visited attraction. Annual attendance has nearly doubled to 735,000 since a popular new Children's Garden opened within the last few years, arboretum spokeswoman Gina Tedesco said.
Fall color fans now have a new option for traveling around the arboretum - by bicycle. Earlier this year, directors began allowing bikes on the central roadways that connect the different sections of the arboretum. Bike racks are located at several points; bikes cannot be taken on hiking trails.
Mike Ramsey can be reached at (312) 857-2323 or ghns-ramsey@sbcglobal.net <http://us.f832.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=ghns-ramsey@sbcglobal.net> .
FALL COLOR FESTIVAL EVENTS
Here is a sampling of events scheduled for the Morton Arboretum's annual Fall Color Festival.
--Oct. 6, 7, 8: "Gourd Works," a show and sale of functional and artistic creations made from gourds; the event is reprised Oct. 27 and 28.
- Oct. 13 and 14: "Portfolia: An Exhibit of Fine Art Inspired By Nature," a show and sale of nature-themed ceramics, fiber art, glasswork, jewelry and metal works.
- Oct. 14: "Pumpkin Play!": A children's workshop about pumpkins.
-- Oct. 20 and 21: Fox Valley African Violet Society Show and Sale.
For details about the arboretum, go to www.mortonarb.org <http://www.mortonarb.org/> .