Dear Miss Floribunda, The drought seems to be over, and autumn is finally here, with trees in full color. I am hearing different opinions about whether dry weather or wet weather makes for more beautiful autumn foliage. Also, some are arguing about whether the drought has made autumn late this year. I’m hearing a lot of opinions without real explanations, so I’m just baffled. What do you think, and why? Whether-Beaten on Street Dear Whether-Beaten, Forgive me for whethering you further, but whether or not the recent drought strained the health of our trees, it won’t have a bad effect on general foliage color. Although the drought has left some trees with dead branches, the leaves on the remaining branches have changed to the bright colors we expect in autumn. The most drought-damaged trees actually changed leaf color early, which is a tree’s reaction to stress. However, I have consulted my trusted friend Fiona Feuille-Morte, of the National Arboretum, for confirmation. She informed me that dry weather in spring is harmful to developing leaves and can cause them to fall prematurely. Substantial rain in the summer will ensure that the leaves in fall remain on the trees longer after they [...]
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