Article: Lure of the leaf // Midwest color displays may be early and short

This could be a crazy fall for leaf lovers in the Midwest. The region's autumn-color season normally stretches from mid-September through October. But this year's severe drought is playing havoc with nature's foliage timetable.

"It's going to take some heavy-duty crystal-ball gazing," to render a color forecast, says Holly Kuusinen of Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources.

The summer's unusually dry conditions should mean earlier color lasting a shorter period of time, adds another spokesman for the agency.

Illinois Department of Conservation forester Mike Reichenbach predicts much of the same, but adds a note of optimism: "Over-all, color should appear earlier than normal, as ...

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