AUTUMN OFFICIALLY ARRIVES WITH LEAF FORECAST ON DULL SIDE

Autumn makes its debut here Monday morning, but the chances of a colorful fall in the woods and forests of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois are not promising at this time, according to a horticulturist at Southeast Missouri State University.

The National Weather Service says clearing skies and cool temperatures will mark fall's arrival.

The Old Farmer's Almanac says the autumnal equinox occurs at 7:48 a.m., CDT, Monday. At that moment, the sun will cross the equator and move into the Southern Hemisphere, where it will be the first day of spring.

The event is called the autumnal equinox because the number of hours of daylight and darkness for several days before and after Sept. 23 will be nearly equal at 12 hours each near the equator. During this period, the sun appears to remain directly over the equator.

This year, autumn's arrival coincides with the full Harvest Moon Monday evening. It's called the Harvest Moon because of the extensive amount of light it provided farmers who toiled in the fields after dark to gather the fall harvest.

With the advent of lights on combines and tractors, the light of the Harvest Moon is no longer considered important by farmers. But to others, it remains an inspiration of beauty as it rises in the east.

Unfortunately, the outlook for inspirational fall foliage this year is not good.

Charles Korns, horticulturist with the Agriculture Department at the university, says summer heat and drought has dimmed the chances of a bright fall this year.

He said the heat and lack of rain caused many trees to undergo severe water stress, reducing the amount of sugars produced in their leaves.

Korns said it is the sugar in tree leaves that produces the bright colors as the weather cools, and the supply of sap to the leaves is cut off.

Botanists and foresters explain that during the spring and summer, the broadleaf leaves are busy food factories. A green-colored substance called chlorophyll helps keep the tree's food factory running. The leaves also have other colors such as red, orange or yellow, but they are hidden by the green of the chlorophyll.

In the fall, as the days grow shorter and nights get cooler, the tree or plant produces a chemical that plugs the circulation in each leaf so that it can no longer make food.

The chlorophyll breaks down and the green color disappears. When that happens, the other hidden colors begin to show. Because of artificial lighting in larger cities, the trees stay green longer than those in the woods and forests.

Heat and water stress during the spring and summer months affect the amount of sugar produced in the leaves. And Korns says that's what happened in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

If the weather conditions improve, Korns says the chances of a colorful fall would increase.

"If we get more sunny, bright days, and clear, cool nights, like we had last week, and an occasional shower or two the rest of the month, we could wind up with at least some "good" fall color," said Korns. "But it won't be as colorful as in past years."

Korns said there is still time. "The trees in this part of the state do not begin to change until mid-to-late October, with the peak usually coming in early November," he said.

Korns said the best opportunities for fall color right now are the sugar maples and oaks. "Dogwoods that underwent severe water stress during the summer, or any other tree or shrub that did not get enough moisture, will also suffer and not have good color," he said.

Another source of color, especially in the city, is the Burning Bush. At this time of the year, poison ivy also takes on bright red and orange colors, and Korns adds that the ivy is just as potent now as it was in the spring and summer.

Some areas for fall color later next month include Trail of Tears State Park, north of Cape Girardeau, the Clark and Mark Twain National forests in central and Southeast Missouri, and the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois.

Another favorite tour for fall color is along Route A, that winds along from Highway 61, north of Jackson, through the east Perry County hills to Frohna, Altenburg, and Wittenburg, along the Mississippi River.

Another colorful, day-long drive is along Highway 21-49 from Ironton-Arcadia south to Piedmont.