Using small brushes the plein air painters dab their colors onto canvas, capturing a wide variety of scenery. This time of year, we see them everywhere creating masterful art.
Meanwhile, another, even more masterful painter is at work. It might seem early, but Mother Nature is busy. And although we can’t see her, we see her results everywhere as she uses her broad brush to paint leaves in vivid color, a dragnet of webbed beauty cloaking the underbrush as she splashes, dashes and dances through a mosaic of maples, poplar and birch, spreading her magic throughout the Northland.
With that knowledge, the U.S. Forest Service is urging people to get outdoors and enjoy one of nature’s most spectacular seasons as leaves of trees begin to change color over the coming weeks.
Shades of fall color have already begun to appear across the Superior National Forest. Leaves on trees this week average 20 percent of peak color right now, but fall color is highly variable depending on your location. Some areas are still green while other areas are around 60 or 70 percent color. Most of the color is from moose maple and red maple trees, with some sugar maple. Almost none of the aspen or birch leaves have changed color yet.
Make your plans to visit today! Remember, fall is a busy place in Cook County, so make sure you have hotel/motel reservations if you plan to stay overnight. Expecting to find an open room on Friday night might be wishful thinking. However, camping options should be available if you wish to camp in Forest Service-run campgrounds.
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