To October!

October brought about a few changes for our trees. Many of the trees have changed their colors or are slowly losing their leaves, for some even both. As the year progresses they will continue their transformations until they have fully lost all of their leaves and stand bare.

Thus far our few trees have only seemed to have changed in their colors. The sugar maples have gone from a rich green to their own individual shades of orange. The sugar maples are all changing at their own rates; some slower than others with only a hint of orange, others more rapidly and almost at a full red-orange. From looking at the photo they have yet to lose many of their leaves, but compared to the older picture they are beginning to look a little more slim.

The tulip poplar, in comparison to the older picture, has lost a few of its leaves. It has also slightly changed in color, but not nearly as drastic compared to the sugar maples. Even less change is present with the willow oak. As far as we can see in the photo the willow oak looks pretty similar. Not much change is present than maybe a slightly lighter leaf color.

Since there are only one of the willow oak and tulip poplar present, that I am aware of, I am not sure if their relatives are changing at the same rate as them. I can on the other hand tell that the sugar maples are all changing at different rates. As stated before the are all turning their own shade of orange-yellow. I believe that this is just because of the trees themselves. Not all of them were exactly the same to start with, so why should we assume that they will change at the same pace. Maybe there is a slight change in amount of sunlight, or a very slight change in soil. Mostly though, I think it's simply the genetic makeup of the tree itself and how well it can adapt to the change in weather. With this in mind I feel confident enough to guess that the  willow oak and tulip poplars also are changing at their own rates, separate from others of their species.