Fall coming early? (Tampa, Christmas: how much, living in, yard)

[mrviking]

I have been watching my trees in my back yard these past few weeks. I pointed out to my visiting brother a few weeks ago that the leaves on my trees are turning color already. I noticed yesterday, half a dozen are dropping their leaves. The orange and red colors are pretty to see, so it can only mean one thing.
Are you ready for some football? With the Buc game starting at 4, I get extra time to work on the menu.
Who says we don't get fall colors in Florida. Yea nature, show us what you got!

[LKJ1988]

Not a chance.

[chaseo1]

no... felt like 108 degrees out yesterday

[kmarc]

Originally Posted by mrviking

I have been watching my trees in my back yard these past few weeks. I pointed out to my visiting brother a few weeks ago that the leaves on my trees are turning color already. I noticed yesterday, half a dozen are dropping their leaves. The orange and red colors are pretty to see, so it can only mean one thing.
Are you ready for some football? With the Buc game starting at 4, I get extra time to work on the menu.
Who says we don't get fall colors in Florida. Yea nature, show us what you got!

I have been wondering the same thing ever since the abrupt and early transition we had to summer weather back in May. It seemed as if we were enjoying some lovely spring weather and then suddenly, the hot, humid wet blanket clamped down. No gradual increase in temperature, just sudden heat and earlier than usual, IMO. Of course, this was my subjective experience, so I usually yield to LK in this, because he keeps meticulous records.

Anyhoo, given that summer was abrupt and early, I have wondered if we'll also see an earlier autumn. My experience is that usually there is a break in the weather during the latter half of October. I am wondering if we'll see this break in the earlier half of October or even at the tail end of September.

It looks to me as if this front that is stuck over us at the moment really wanted to make it through. Could the next one be the one to break the back of summer? Stay tuned...

[kbrkr]

It always amazing me how people can associate fall leaves with the cold. It has nothing to do with cold temperatures and everything to do with how much light the leaves receive so they can produce Chlorophyll. Days are becoming shorter and light is shining less and less each day.

Yes, the leaves are turning.

[cjrudy]

Originally Posted by kbrkr

It always amazing me how people can associate fall leaves with the cold. It has nothing to do with cold temperatures and everything to do with how much light the leaves receive so they can produce Chlorophyll. Days are becoming shorter and light is shining less and less each day.

Yes, the leaves are turning.

Actually that is incorrect, temperature has just as much of a role in color change as does the reduction in daylight.

Here is a good explanation.

Why Leaves Change Color

[luv my dayton]

Here in Ohio it looks,feels and smells fall. Last night had to grab a sweat shirt to sleep in. Did have the window raised a bit. Had noticed a week again some trees had started to turn. Fall is my favorite time of year as we just came out of a summer that was terribly hot and humid.

[mrviking]

Originally Posted by kbrkr

It always amazing me how people can associate fall leaves with the cold. It has nothing to do with cold temperatures and everything to do with how much light the leaves receive so they can produce Chlorophyll. Days are becoming shorter and light is shining less and less each day.

Yes, the leaves are turning.

Weird right?> I associate Fall with pumpkins as well and Winter with Snow and Christmas some years too. This year I thought about BBQ and Fireworks in July. Life is funny like that sometimes I guess.

[Sunscape]

It was hot yesterday, really hot for me. No, I don't think Fall is here yet, but I wish it was.....

[LKJ1988]

I have yet to ever see a early fall in my 52 years living in the Tampa area. Once we had two mornings in the summer of 1980 it got down to 58 around Sept 17th and 18th and it was back to 90's until mid Oct. Many times i have seen temps get into the 50's before the 10th of Oct. So plan on nasty hot weather for a few more weeks.