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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. Irene's wrath has claimed another victim in Fairfield County: The fall foliage.
The usually bright orange, red and yellow autumn leaves have not reached their peak brilliance this year. And if you're waiting for that to happen, tree experts say wait till next year. A combination of weather factors culminating with Hurricane Irene has not only knocked down hundreds of trees but also impacted the colors on the ones left standing.
The impact on foliage has been particularly hard on trees along the shore because of wind-swept rain and saltwater that drenched trees and leaves near Long Island Sound, arborists said.
"We've had a lot of disappointed leaf-peepers this year asking why the spectacular New England foliage is so blasé," said Richard Whitehead, a licensed state arborist, member of the Norwalk Tree Advisory Committee and board member with the Norwalk Tree Alliance.
Whitehead works for The Care of Trees, a residential and commercial tree maintenance and preservation company in Stamford. The foliage colors are the worst he has seen in 30 years as an arborist, he said.
"Yes, Irene really did a number on the trees and the foliage this year," Whitehead said. "What we're telling people as far as foliage this year, it's mostly brown and out."
Wet and damp conditions during the leaf-growing season in spring and throughout the summer and fall has impacted fall foliage in several ways damaging the growth of leaves, hurting the colors and causing leaves to turn brown and fall earlier than usual, Whitehead said.
"The combination of so much rain, high winds and salt that resulted from Irene has damaged the leaf petals, which is the stem of the leaf that connects with the twig," he said. "The petals were so badly damaged this year the foliage didn't go through the full fall cycle and many stems shed early."
David Tracy, president of the Norwalk Tree Alliance, said many of the group's members have noticed that fall foliage is washed out this year. "This is the time of year people who live here and travel to the area look forward to the incredible foliage colors, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen this year," Tracy said. "It's a shame, but if we've learned anything here in New England, it's that you can't control Mother Nature."
William Levin, a member of the Tree Alliance, said cites several reasons for the poor colors. "Heavy rains in summer caused excessive mold on many sugar maples leaves, which normally turn orange," said Levin. "Sea spray from Hurricane Irene also damaged leaves, so trees on the beach in Norwalk are either defoliated or almost totally drab and devoid of color as a result. Warm weather, especially during overnights, has delayed colors on later turning trees such as oaks."
State officials agreed tree damage resulting from Irene has had a major impact on the foliage. "We have a high population density and large number of trees in the state, and that obviously presents a problem when storms like Irene hit that cause widespread tree damage," said Chris Donnelly, urban forestry coordinator for Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Leaf peepers say are still hoping colors will brighten but aren't counting on it. "The foliage sucks this year," Danielle McQuillan of Westport said during a recent stop along Burr Street in Fairfield. "We've driven all over the place, but so far, it's just very disappointing."
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