By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

If it seems that trees are changing color sooner than usual, you’re right. 

You may want to start your leaf peeping a little earlier this year — perhaps weeks earlier. Some areas around Cattaraugus County are already seeing major changes in the color of hillsides of trees. 

The Autumnal Equinox, or first day of Fall is literally just around the corner — Monday,  Sept. 22, and some patches of hillside are already painted in bright colors.  

The I Love New York Fall Foliage Report, in its 40th year, labels most all of the state as changing. 

“Colorful fall foliage continues to emerge across New York State, with the most significant changes once again expected in the Adirondacks and Catskills,” according to this season’s second fall foliage report.

Reports are available online at iloveny.com/foliage, or toll-free at 800-CALL-NYS (800-225-5697) from anywhere in the U.S.

Accuweather.com states drought, pests, disease and cooler, drier weather has placed a tremendous stress on trees. The results, in many cases, will be an earlier, shorter fall foliage season.

As this summer’s Western New York drought continues, it’s important that some relief is on the way in the fall rains.

In Ellicottville, Dennis Eshbaugh, president of Holiday Valley Resort, said the color came on quickly — almost over last weekend. “It’s very pretty out there,” he said.

Eshbaugh says that frequently early signs of fall will slow down. To others — especially leaf peepers — it’s a sign to start those fall foliage drives sooner. 

“We’re hoping for a gradual Fall,” Eshbaugh said. Ellicottville’s Fall Festival is Oct. 11-12 and the 38th Salamanca Falling Leaves Festival is Oct. 4-6

Randy Sprague, owner of Sprague’s Maple Farms, said trees seem to be changing color “quite a bit earlier than last year. It’s been extremely dry. They are under a lot of stress.”

He oversees the health of thousands of maple trees that supply maple sap to Sprague’s Maple Farms. “They’ll need to get moisture soon,” Sprague said of the “We’re starting to see quite a few leaves falling.”

Sprague’s Restaurant on Route 305 north of Portville depends on the trees not just for the famous maple syrup they produce, but for the leaf peepers who end up filling the restaurant’s tables.

The fall foliage season may not only be earlier to start, it will probably be shorter too.

The Weather Channel said it has a lot to do with where trees are located and what kind of soil their roots are sitting in.

While Sprague isn’t too worried yet that the current drought will impact maple sap production next spring, he’s hoping for a good amount of snow this winter to provide the moisture the trees are lacking now.

(Rick Miller/Olean Star)