Talking Autumn Leaves with Jessica Savage

Expert Alert: Discussing fall colors with a biologist

Autumn is a season of change, with the warmth and plenty of summer transitioning to the cold of winter. It’s also a season of drive: for plants and animals as they gather stores, and for people as they flock to nature’s display of seasonal adaptation. We wanted to connect with an expert at UMD to discuss the coming colorful season.

As visitors explore Minnesota’s bountiful forests for views of bright yellows, oranges and reds, it’s easy to forget why the show even happens in the first place, and despite advanced forecasting and peak color maps, folks might find themselves in a bind for the colors they were looking for. We spoke with UMD leaf expert Jessica Savage to learn a bit more about what’s going on behind the scenes, how recent weather trends may impact the season, and what to do if your leaf-peeping spot isn’t spot on.

Fall Color Q&A with Jessica Savage, PhD

Q: When can we expect leaves to peak this year?
A: “Fall foliage in Duluth tends to peak in the middle of October, but the exact timing is tied to the weather. There are some great resources, like the Minnesota DNR’s Fall Color Finder, that can provide folks with an idea of when we’ll expect peak color in a given area.”

Q: Last winter and our recent summers have been somewhat abnormal, how does that impact this year's leaf season?
A: “In 2024, we had a wet summer. If that continues, it will bode well for the fall foliage. In dry years, some trees can change prematurely and drop their leaves quickly. Temperature can also affect tree color change. If we have a cool fall and no damaging frost events, the colors will be brighter.”

Q: Any advice for leaf-peepers?
A: “The Arrowhead region is a great place to look for fall foliage because there is a large window when you can see color change across the landscape. Peak season changes depending on how close you are to Lake Superior. This means if the coast hasn't hit peak season yet, you can always go inland to catch a bigger display.”

Q: What's your favorite thing about leaf season?
A: “Fall really excites me because it is one of the times of year when we get to see plant physiology in action. Unlike us, trees cannot go inside in the winter and need to prepare for the cold temperatures to come. Leaf color change and leaf drop is part of this acclimation process and a visible sign of changes that are happening inside the plants.”

 

Jessica Savage

About Jessica Savage

Dr. Savage is an Associate Professor & Associate Department Head in the Swenson College of Science and Engineering at UMD. Her research explores the physiological-basis of how plants interact with their environment, and how these interactions impact broader patterns in plant ecology. She has conducted research examining many aspects of plant stress tolerance and more recently investigated the role of the plant vascular system, specifically the phloem, in determining patterns of plant growth and reproduction. Her research spans the fields of plant physiology and ecology, and she has studied a variety of plant species from willows (Salix) to giant pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima). She has recently been examining how seasonal changes in the vascular system of plants impact the timing of flowering and leaf out in the spring to better understand the physiological basis of plant phenology and seasonality, two factors that are critical in understanding species current and future geographic distributions.


Contact: 

Email: [email protected]   
Phone: 218-726-8122 

Related publications

You can find more on her laboratory page as well as some of her work highlighted by the BBC and the Smithsonian.


Header image: Fall colors on the UMD campus.