Itasca phenology: Friday, September 3 started the mid-morning with temperatures hovering around 49 and wind chill values (yup, you read it correct…wind chill value) at 43 degrees! Looks like fall is arriving!
Fall colors are beginning to appear: Ash are changing quickly to their lemon yellow; scattered yellow colors are appearing in the basswoods, khaki colors in the balsam popple, purples and pinks in the dogwoods and hazel, and even a few reds in the smaller solitary red maples.
Autumn flowers are now at their blooming peak, including: aster species, goldenrods species, sunflower species and spotted-touch-me-not.
Animals are on the move, including lots of raccoons and deer at night as they gobble up the falling acorns. Nighthawks and Yellow-shafted flickers are increasing in numbers as they gather to migrate.
Deer are beginning to get their winter coats as the lovely red fur is being overshadowed by the thicker gray fur for winter. Geese are being heard as they fly overhead. Wolves are moving about going to rendezvous spots and leaving large piles of scat on the hiking trails.
Make plans for Fall color viewing at Itasca…
Check out the progress of Itasca’s fall color change at the Minnesota State Parks fall colors section of their website. This is a great time to hike and take some photos of the fall colors. You can upload them to the DNR fall colors website and your picture might appear on the Itasca fall photos page! http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fall_colors/index.html
Get regular state park reports on Twitter @mnstateparks
Make plans for the annual Ozawindib Walk…
Saturday, October 2: be sure to come out for this annual fund raiser sponsored by the Friends of Itasca State Park. Hike begins at 3:30 p.m. A variety of family fun activities focusing on fall will be ongoing from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Visit with photographer Dana Holm during the family fun stations. Food hot off the grill will be available for purchase. Wrap up the evening with music by Dancing Light from 7 to 9 p.m.
Make plans for Fall fun at Itasca!
Saturday, September 11: Music Under the Pines: Rebby Ray Band
Saturday, September 25: 3rd Annual Autumn Harvest Festival: Lantern Lit Hike and Activities: "Wild, Wacky and Weird Science of Nature", with music by Craig Willis. Food, fun activities, a lantern lit “mad scientist” hike and more.
Saturday, September 25: Music Under the Pines: Craig Willis
Saturday, October 2: Itasca's Fall Family Festival and Ozawindib Walk, with music by Dancing Light to follow. Food, fun activities, hiking and more.
Saturday, October 2: Music Under the Pines: Dancing Light
Sunday, October 3: Book Signing with Dana Holm
Visit www.stayatmnparks.com for more information of park activities.
