Let’s take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season to celebrate the on going fall color show.

A quick scan through pictures from years past proved what I have been thinking, “This is as late of a fall color show I have witnessed in central Oklahoma!”

It’s mid-December…Why are some trees still so bright with color?

One of the key drivers of fall color is moisture. Late summer and early fall moisture this year was absent. But…November delivered the Oklahoma City area more rainfall than any other month this year. And, when we talk about moisture impacting fall color, rain in the 30 days before color change has the biggest impact.

November’s rainfall set us up for brilliant fall color in December!

Japanese Maples and October Glory Maples are two varieties that are currently on fire with color. Other trees still adding color to the landscape include Oaks and Chinese Pistache.

Japanese Maples

For more information on Japanese Maples, follow these links to previous articles we have posted: Japanese Maples - The Aristocrat of the Landscape and Japanese Maples – Year-Round Interest.

October Glory Maples

As one of the last large Maple trees to turn colors in the fall, this year they have been the big benefactor of November’ rainfall. October Glory Maples are a cross between a Red and Silver Maple and typically have a thicker denser canopy than the Autumn Blaze Maple which is one of the first maples to bring fall color.