
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 14, 1995                   TAG: 9509140053
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

AUTUMN LEAVES WON'T GIVE MUCH OF A SHOW

The fall foliage in Virginia's forests likely will be less spectacular this year than in previous years because of the summer's plant-parching dryness, experts say.

The display also will come earlier and be shorter. Leaves already are turning brown in some places, tumbling from the trees without taking on the usual brilliant scarlet and amber hues.

``The trees are under stress,'' said Kelly Hartsell, a Shenandoah National Park ranger. ``When they're under stress, trees see no advantage to keeping their leaves any longer.''

``I'd guess the leaves are going to peak out a little early,'' said Lou Southard, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Forestry. ``We've got yellow poplars where the leaves are already starting to fall, and these are the trees that usually shed their leaves last and give you that last, good burst of yellow.''

Leaves typically assume their peak colors during the second and third weeks of October, Hartsell said. This year, though, park scientists think the colors will come early.

``We're guessing it's also going to be a quicker show this year,'' Hartsell said.

George Washington National Forest researchers are forecasting a similar season: The autumn colors, usually expected between Oct. 15 and 20, likely will peak by Oct. 14 and be less remarkable.

``We might expect an early turn, lots of brown and not as colorful as it normally is,'' said Nadine Pollack, spokeswoman for the George Washington National Forest. ``Or ... there could be an early drop with no color.''

Leaf watching is big business in Virginia, with 400,000 people visiting the Shenandoah National Park and 400,000 also driving the Blue Ridge Parkway in the George Washington National Forest every October. The October visitors account for almost one-fifth of the Shenandoah's total yearly visitors.

According to the Virginia Division of Tourism, October is the state's fourth-biggest month in terms of luring travelers, behind only the beach-weather months of July, August and June. Of the 50 million people who travel more than 100 miles to get to Virginia destinations every year, 10.5 percent come in October, said Sue Bland, spokeswoman for the tourism division.

Southard said there still is an outside possibility that wet weather and cool nights in late September and early October could restore some vitality to the trees and luster to the leaves.

by CNB