Colorado’s aspen trees are showing their fall colors while it’s still August. Is that a bad thing?

In The NOCO

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18d ago 9:13

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If you look at your calendar – or your weather app – you’ll notice that we are still firmly in the dog days of summer. You should be spending weekends at the pool or sitting in the shade with a cold beverage.

But if you look at your local aspen trees, you might be fooled into thinking it’s time for jack-o’-lanterns and pumpkin spice lattes. And it’s not even Labor Day.

Colorado’s aspens are starting to show their fall colors alarmingly early — despite the summer heat. But why? Turns out, it’s a combination of chemistry and climate science.

To learn more about the science behind what’s happening, Erin O’Toole spoke to John Murgel, a horticulture specialist with CSU Extension in Douglas County.

If you're planning a trip to enjoy the fall colors, this map from the Colorado State Forest Service can help you figure out where and when to go.

For more tree wisdom from John, check out our conversation about how to prepare your trees to survive a Colorado winter, or this one explaining why aspens aren't a great choice for Front Range yards.

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Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole
Producer: Ariel Lavery
Executive Producer: Brad Turner
Theme music by Robbie Reverb
Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions
In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

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