Your Guide to Fall Colors

The second week of October is when fall colors peak for our region this year, per the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. If you are taking advantage of planting at home this weekend, check out other areas of Illinois for leaf color changes. It is nice to get out and about, after all.

TGP Naperville Sugar Maple in late October

Whether you travel by car, on foot, or over water, witnessing nature in its glory is a feeling that will follow you home and inspire your own landscape goals. Here is a listing of places to see the colors change outside of your own neighborhood or drive to work. Please view websites or call the places you plan to visit for their hours and regulations during Covid.

Old House in the Fall — TGP Aurora Autumn Blaze Maples in front of our Farmhouse in the fall

Where to See Fall Colors

Fall Travel in Illinois: www.enjoyillinois.com/plan-your-trip/seasonal-adventures/fall-travel-in-illinois/illinois-fall-color-report/

Shawnee National Forest: www.fs.usda.gov/shawnee

Starved Rock State Park: www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/StarvedRock.aspx

DuPage Forest Preserve: www.dupageforest.org/blog/fall-color-show

Kane County Forest Preserve: kaneforest.com

Morton Arboretum: www.mortonarb.org/news/fall-color-report-october-1–7-2020

Knoch Knolls Nature Center: Viewing nature from the water offers a different perspective. Try a canoe or kayak trip along the Fox River. One place to launch is near the Knoch Knolls Nature Center.

Add color, texture, and shape to your landscape.

Fall Planting & Planning

Take advantage of the cooler air temps and plant perennials, shrubs, and trees while the soil temps are warm, not too wet, or frozen. Roots continue to grow long after plant tops have gone dormant. Less watering is required in the fall. Our perennials and roses are currently on sale, and we have a large stock of shrubs and trees. Happy planting!

Fall is also a great time to take photos of plants. They will help you remember the fall colors, size, and spacing needed. Photos of your landscape will show what spaces need to be filled. Our TGP Plant Search is helpful when planning what to plant in your landscaping. Or you may choose to work with one of our Landscape Designers.

More Fall Family Fun

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources explains why leaves change colors.

The Arbor Day Foundation shows how to identify trees.

The Chicago Botanic Garden offers many coloring pages to print from home. Click here for a fun fall coloring page.