Kimberly Talcott 9/21/21 Kimberly Talcott 9/21/21

September 21, 2021

Look on up! My earlier leaf reports mentioned looking low in Spearfish Canyon to see the color transitions in the grasses and shrubs. Now it’s time to peer up into the highest points of the Canyon rim and cliffs for a cascade of color from the top down.

Fall leaves — Colorful leaves in Spearfish Canyon

Color Change: 65% (Moderate)

The higher elevation leaf color changes are most noticeable at mile marker 21, before you reach the Long Valley Picnic area, and at the Iron Creek trailhead parking area.

If you’re trying to capture the Canyon’s fall beauty on camera, here are a few tips from former Canyon Leaf Reporter Jerry J. Boyer. Try to photograph after 10 a.m. and take photos in the north/south direction because of sun glare. Rainy or cloudy days are ideal for Canyon photos because they diffuse the bright light.

Kimberly Talcott 9/17/21 Kimberly Talcott 9/17/21

September 17, 2021

Today, Jerry J. Boyer accompanied me to the Canyon to survey the leaves. Leaf Report readers will know Jerry’s name as former president of the Spearfish Canyon Foundation and an avid leaf reporter for 20 years. Jerry is also author of several books including “Canyon Echoes: A Spearfish Canyon Photo Essay.”

Fall colors emerging on Canyon walls behind Spearfish Canyon Lodge

Color Change: 55% (Moderate)

The leaves are nearing 55 percent color change today, with a noticeable slowing down of their gradual change to fall colors. The leaves are giving us time to notice, and look! The more than 80 bends in the Canyon Scenic Byway each reveal a different stage of change. As Jerry says, “every curve has its own magic.”

The area around Spearfish Canyon Lodge to the 76 Trail is beginning to show its colors, with bursts of lime and blonde among the pines and limestone. You will notice radiant scarlet Sumac and purple Dogwood along the lower levels of the Canyon. Nannyberry shrubs near the Long Valley Picnic Area are beginning to reveal their crimson hues.

I tried to get Jerry to reveal his prediction for our peak color change. It looks like we may have a slightly earlier, although still within normal range, leaf peak around Sept. 27-28. As Jerry says, “You can’t fool Mother Nature.” Weather in the coming week will be our determining factor.

Kimberly Talcott 9/14/21 Kimberly Talcott 9/14/21

September 14, 2021

Mountain Goats were grazing at the bend in the road after Bridal Veil Falls this morning. They were enjoying the leaves too, eating green leaves on trees and sauntering through the colorful grasses. A small, migratory population of Rocky Mountain Goats has lived in the Black Hills since the 1920s, according to the S.D. Game, Fish, & Parks. A goat sighting is a good reminder to drive slow through the Canyon. You never know when the next turn will reveal a sighting of these slow-moving, agile animals.

Color Change: 50% (Moderate)

The Canyon leaves are at 50 percent of their peak color change. The ground shrubs and grasses continue to show off vibrant reds and the mid-levels of the Canyon are showing vibrant yellows. Some trees are noticeably dry, and on a close inspection you can see the crackled edges of a dry tree compared to a tree going through its fall color change.

I included a photo from my Aunt in this week’s report. A love of nature runs strong in our family. She noticed a large number of pinecones on her conifer or cone-bearing trees such as Ponderosa Pine this year. The dry, hot weather means the conifer trees are more interested in reproducing, rather than growth. The cones contain their seeds. So not only is the weather hot, but the trees are apparently “in heat,” too!