Saturday, September 26, 2020

Come to Powell Lake for Fall Foliage

Leaves turning on Goat Island.
People go east on expensive fall foliage trips. It's a region well known for trees in spectacular hues of yellow, orange, red, purple and brown. Like the Atlantic Provinces, broadleaf trees around Powell Lake change colour.

In front of our cabin, Goat Island has a glorious display of maples, dogwoods and alders. The swaths of colour paint the hillsides along stream carved gullies and slopes.



Have you wondered how this colourful display occurs? Chlorophyll, the pigment that gives leaves their green colour, gets energy from sunlight to transform carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates (sugars and starch). Leaves also have yellow to orange pigments called carotene and xanthophyll, but they are overpowered by chlorophyll most of the year. When fall arrives, things change.

Days are shorter and deciduous trees, ones that lose their leaves, get ready for winter. Chlorophyll, and its green colour, begins to diminish. This allows the yellow and orange colours to become more dominant.

Reds and purples are created when glucose (sugars) are trapped in leaves after photosynthesis stops. Bright sunny days and cool nights in autumn cause leaves to turn the glucose into red to purple colours. A brown colour is from wastes left behind in the leaves.



As winter approaches, leaves begin to fall. Where the stem of a leaf is attached to the tree there is a special layer of cells. This layer gradually breaks down until it can no longer support the weight of the leaf. When storm winds blow, leaves drop. Trees become dormant and live off the food they have stored over the summer. Their stems, twigs and buds are equipped to survive extreme cold until the following spring.


Fallen leaves are not wasted. They become part of the thick humus layer of the forest floor and decay to replenish the soil with nutrients. There also absorb rainfall, hold moisture and become food for organisms that are important to the forest ecosystem.


Here are some resources if you would like more details:

Next year when travel is safer, come to Powell River in Coastal BC to experience fall foliage. People here are friendly, the resorts are uncrowded and the restaurants are great. The opportunities are limitless. You won’t be sorry you chose to head north rather than east. -- Margy

47 comments:

  1. A rainbow!
    It's a wonderful time of year. So many travel, as you say, to see them.
    And, to answer your question, we have to take the fish out. It's a shallow pond, and with -20 C. some days, then the freeze/thaws, it kills them.

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    1. We had so much rain this week (2.5") that the lake level went back up over a foot. With the runoff we've always estimated that an inch of rain gives us a four inch increase in lake level. After heavy drops this month it was very much needed. - Margy

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  2. Lovely Fall colours. We are missing our trip to BC this year, hopefully next year, but who knows. One of our last trips we went north on the island and saw the sign for the ferry to Powell River. We gave a big wave to you over there. I would love to come for a visit to you.

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    1. It would be wonderful if we could get together on one of your future trips. - Margy

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  3. What a beautiful place and in autumn dress!
    Your photos are wonderful!!!
    Greeting Elke

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    1. Thanks so much. I have to admit it is beautiful. - Margy

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  4. ...our colors are a bit early this year because we have been so dry. I hope to enjoy the colors this week. It must be wonderful to be back home!

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    1. We seem to be a bit late with the warm September. - Margy

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    1. Thanks. We enjoy the view in all seasons. - Margy

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  6. Margy - so great to see you return to Mosaic Monday, and with the perfect autumn post! We have two maples in our garden - one is called a Fiesta Maple, and it is a veritable party of oranges and reds right now! I am thoroughly enjoying our cooler temperatures and blue skies!

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    1. My blogging has reduced during the last few months. I enjoy participating and reading everyone's posts. - Margy

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  7. if it wasn´t for the mountains it could well be Sweden :) Our Maples are also in full fall colors :) Lovely, isn´t it?

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    1. My great grandfather was from Sweden. Would love to visit some day. - Margy

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  8. Hello Margy,

    The fall colors and trees are just beautiful. You have gorgeous views there. The trees are starting to turn here too, it is a colorful time of the year. Love the rainbow photos, all the photos and views are beautiful. Take care, enjoy your day. Wishing you a great new week!

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    1. I'm sure we'll see great pictures from your walks on your blog. - Margy

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  9. Wished, I could be there. This nature makes breatheless. Thank you for sharing.
    Happy MosaicMonday

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    1. That's one of the main reasons we decided to purchase the float cabin here on Powell Lake. - Margy

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  10. I read on another blog about the stumble and fall and subsequent stitches. Hope all is healing nicely. Your fall pictures are pretty, especially the translucent shades that the rainbow brings to the bold greens and yellows.

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    1. Yes, the broken finger was unexpected. It's slowed my down little, especially things involving water. - Margy

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  11. I've never seen a rainbow with a background like that...how dramatic! And I love the color of the trees reflected in the water. It's gorgeous! I would love to travel there again. It's been years since I was there but it was in the Fall about this time of year when I visited. Enjoy your week!

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    1. We get some great rainbows, especially now tht the rains have returned. - Margy

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  12. So it isn’t magic? ... seriously that is a clear and concise explanation ... you are a great teacher. I remember trying to explain this process to my kids .... (and probably ending up saying ‘go ask your dad”. ...I’m pretty sure I didn’t actually use the word magic anyway.). And I would *love* to come North next year... it has to get better!
    ,

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    1. One thing about blogging is I learn a lot researching for posts. - Margy

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  13. Your autumn color looks much like ours here in Colorado. Our aspens are all in their golden glory right now. I was thankful the early snowstorm we had a few weeks ago did not stop the process.

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    1. You have even more impressive colours where you live. - Margy

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  14. Wow - gorgeous autumn colours!

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  15. So beautiful, especially the photo of the rainbow in front of the colorful trees. Ahh such a tranquil spot.
    Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade

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    1. Yes it is, especially now that the summer cabin goers are gone. Spring and fall are the best seasons for tranquility. - Margy

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  16. Absolutely breathtaking!! The photow with the rainbow is just amazing! Thank you and have a wonderful week!

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  17. All those reflection shots are gorgeous but the rainbow one? Just WOW!!!

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  18. It's very beautiful there. Wonderful that when many trees shut down for the winter, they put on such a colorful show.

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  19. Beautiful photos!

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  20. If I could, I would go to Power Lake in a heart beat!

    Love the gorgeous Fall colours!

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  21. Hi Margy!

    You're back to your cabin!

    Lived in New England in my previous life, so I know what you're talking about. It is pricey and crowded around this time of year.

    Our scenery of the TN River is quite similar to yours although our color won't peak until late October. It is just starting to get cold here - 50s at night now.

    Enjoy!

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    1. We are alternating between cool, cold and warm - a normal October for us. - Margy

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  22. My, so beautiful there.
    So lovely to see those gorgeous yellow trees and the colour that they create as it streams across the water.

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    1. I love seeing all the fall photos this time of year. - Margy

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  23. Your photos are so colorful on the mountainsides. I don't get to see much autumn color here in Taranaki with all the pine trees but spring certainly makes up for it.

    It's great to see you at 'My Corner of the World' this week!! Thanks for linking up.

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    1. We are mostly evergreens here too. The maples grow along streams so they are more evident this time of year. - Margy

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  24. beautiful leaves... most lovely color are purple and red... wonderful for me.

    Have a great day

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    1. One time we drove on a logging road on a cloudy day. All of the yellow maple leaves covering the ground and left on the branches made it seem sunny. - Margy

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  25. Such gorgeous colours. The photos of the yellowing leaves reflecting on the lake are just stunning!

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    1. I love those calm days that give us beautiful reflections. - Margy

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  26. Awesome indeed! Especially with that light rainbow... :)

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    1. Rainbows are one benefit of living in a rainy environment. That and green forests all year long. - Margy

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We welcome your comments and questions. - Wayne and Margy