ColorFall Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park Week Two

Pennyrile Lake October 3, 2013

Fall is in the early stages at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park. We are seeing some fall color in poison ivy and Virginia creeper vines that can be seen climbing trunks of trees.  Blackgum trees are speckled with red leaves.  Sassafras is turning shades of red and orange. Flowering dogwoods are turning shades of purple and red. Catalpa, ash, black walnut, sycamore, and the state tree tulip poplar are beginning to turn shades of chartreuse and yellow.  Winged Sumac is also turning red along the camper's trace trail.  The forest as a whole is still very green with some color showing up on the edges.  We are predicting peak color to appear in mid to late October.

Virginia Creeper at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

Virginia Creeper is this week's showcase plant.  Virginia Creeper is a vine with five leaflets.  It is common throughout the area and is often misidentified as poison oak.  Virginia Creeper is harmless.  This vine has beautiful fall color as demonstrated in this photograph.



Fall events to look for at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park include: Photography Weekend October 18-20, 2013 and Spooky Extravaganza (aka Halloween Campout) October 25-27, 2013. For more information about events go to www.parks.ky.gov