Fagus 2016

[doogs]

Just thought I'd start up the annual topic to share how the fagus is looking. Where's worth a wander?

[beardless]

Two weeks ago some pockets were starting to go yellow on the Tarn Shelf, Mt Field.

[wilko]

Plenty of gold on the Tarn Shelf on Wednesday

[wilko]

Fagus is well advanced at Cradle

[doogs]

Lovely photos Wilko. Thanks for sharing.

[cams]

Can anyone recommend some good spots within a day trip and walk from Hobart apart from Mt Field? We want to head out this weekend, but would like to avoid all the people heading to the Fagus Festival.

[dee_legg]

Me too Cams, I'm thinking that the Needles might be worth a look but it's a very different rock type to the Field region and I'm not sure how these affects it's distribution. Having said that, I know that it grows well on both quartzite/conglomerates and dolerite around Cradle so I'm hopeful that there might be some around the Needles too. Also, I have heard that there is some growing on Collins Cap but can't confirm this myself.

Dee

[doogs]

Trying to think of places that I've seen fagus..You can access the southern end of the Travellers Range via Travellers Rest Lagoon as a day trip, I think there is some on the ascent of Snowy South from Lake Skinner? and by the look of this fagus distribution map, maybe around Mt Hartz of Mt Picton http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?i ... rd&sb=.jpg

[stepbystep]

Mt Murchison is a good long day trip option

[MrWalker]

Will I see any fagus on the Horse track?

I'll be at Cradle Mt tomorrow and the Horse Track is (almost) the only official track I have not been on. But it would be a pity to go there and not see any fagus until the return circuit. So is there any fagus close to that track or are there good views into Crater Lake?

I realise it's probably not at its best there yet, but the weather is good and I can't go again for several weeks.

[johnw]

Me too Cams, I'm thinking that the Needles might be worth a look but it's a very different rock type to the Field region and I'm not sure how these affects it's distribution. Having said that, I know that it grows well on both quartzite/conglomerates and dolerite around Cradle so I'm hopeful that there might be some around the Needles too. Also, I have heard that there is some growing on Collins Cap but can't confirm this myself.

Dee

Needles is a pretty short trip if you are fit/quick so might have time left for something else if no Fagus evident. I've only done it mid summer and can't recall if I noticed any up there.

[dee_legg]

Thanks everyone. I think I will head up the Needles then go home via the usual haunts around Lake Dobson if nothing is found at the Needles.
P.S I'm 95% sure there's none at Hartz.

Cheers!

Dee

[axcarmil]

P.S I'm 95% sure there's none at Hartz.

Did the Hartz/Mt Snwowy circuit today. There is some on the cairned track between Mt Snowy and where the tack rejoins the main track up to Hartz (i.e., past Emily and Arthur Tarns). Some leaves are just starting to turn now. Still mostly green. There is not a lot, and probably not visible from the main track, but the circuit gives you an up close look at some (and is nice walk).

[stepbystep]

Yep I've seen a little at Hartz. None on The Needles, could be wrong there though I'd be surprised.

Olympus was nice a cpl days ago....

[Chris]

Saturday 23rd fagus was still beautifully fresh at Cradle. Only spotted 2 leaves with a bit of red but lots of colour which looks like it will last for quite a few days, weather permitting. Lake Hanson, Twisted Lakes and Lake Wilkes all quite magnificent.

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[cams]

Thanks for the suggestions all. At least I found out about The Needles. Sounds like a great walk. We ended up going to Mt Field anyway. Went on Monday to avoid the festival. Walked up to Tarn Shelf, but were a little disappointed to find it on the way out. Still a few nice little pockets of late colour. I should have paid more attention to the roadside bits further down the mountain but it was too dark by the time we were leaving.

Anyway. Still happy for my first time seeing it in the flesh, and it was a beautiful day to be out and about either way. Here's one shot I quickly processed.

PS. What's the deal with the red leaves? Does it need certain conditions for this to actally happen? I saw a couple that were almost red, but have read a few people talking about seeing red ones?

[DanShell]

We were at Mount Field over the weekend as well Cams but we took on the crowds at the festival

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[eggs]

We did a long trip from SA to see the fagus. It was our 3rd time visiting around Anzac day.

First was the overland track - it was pretty good and probably early in the season.

Second was the Labyrinth and saw extremely little - but did spot one delightful red bush. People took some good shots of fagus colour in May that year.

3rd was just done - a few days exploring the top end of Cradle area. This time was a mixed bag. Some still green, a lot yellow and orange, quite a bit brown and a lot of bushes with leaves all gone.
Some locals said it was better a few weeks before - so this was later in the season for us.
Still some great colour though - but no reds.

[Nuts]

Nice swathes of fagus up there eggs!

[eggs]

Yes Nuts
- lots of Fagus around the Cradle area. Just a bit late for the best apparently.
The back of Cradle is a top spot for it.
You may have noticed this phone panorama I put up elsewhere - but it probably gives the best overall impression of that area.

Phone panorama of the back of Cradle Mt from the Lake Rodway track

[Giddy_up]

It's probably been asked already, but what makes the red leaves. Is it temp, season, rainfall, nutrition, plant age or just good old fashioned luck.


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[Strider]

It's probably been asked already, but what makes the red leaves. Is it temp, season, rainfall, nutrition, plant age or just good old fashioned luck.


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Why leaves change colour

Deciduousness - the seasonal losing of leaves - is brought on by a combination of weather and plant chemistry. During warmer months, chlorophyll in the leaves not only helps convert sunlight into sugar, it also gives the leaves their green colouring. But as the days shorten, chlorophyll starts to break down and another pigment called anthocyanin takes over. It is this pigment which gives autumn leaves their colour. Eventually, as the leaves cease to take up any further nutrient, they fall to the ground, returning precious minerals to the soil which will feed the next spring growth.

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=3244

[Giddy_up]

It's probably been asked already, but what makes the red leaves. Is it temp, season, rainfall, nutrition, plant age or just good old fashioned luck.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Why leaves change colour

Deciduousness - the seasonal losing of leaves - is brought on by a combination of weather and plant chemistry. During warmer months, chlorophyll in the leaves not only helps convert sunlight into sugar, it also gives the leaves their green colouring. But as the days shorten, chlorophyll starts to break down and another pigment called anthocyanin takes over. It is this pigment which gives autumn leaves their colour. Eventually, as the leaves cease to take up any further nutrient, they fall to the ground, returning precious minerals to the soil which will feed the next spring growth.

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=3244

Thanks for that but why the "red", or distinct lack of it this year. I assume the pigment is still there yet it hasn't been able to manifest itself so I am assuming other elements are at play.

[eggs]

In 2014 the season ran late - but was quite spectacular.

Under that Fagus 2014 topic NUTS stated:
"Some years ago I went on a hunt for red. All around the mountain for several days without finding more than a leaf here, one there.
Other years they seem more prolific. Afterwards I caught up with some reading. Studies, largely of northern hemisphere origin, discuss weather effects on the rate of change and strength of colour (state of chlorophyll degradation while still 'on the tree'). I suspect in our case that weather plays a major role in what we see of the seasonal change (once triggered). Interested in more insight also"

[stepbystep]

I'm always curious to go back to individual plants I've seen as red but end up going to new places each year.

Here's a few other shots from this season...first set from Lake Oenone.

[stepbystep]

2nd bunch from The Labyrinth before the weather packed it in...

[Giddy_up]

SBS those pictures are sublime, what a gorgeous place Tassie is. I'm in awe!!

On the red leaves I'm just doing a little googling to see what I can find. The first assumption I am making is that Tassie had an unusually dry summer which I would have suggested could make pigments more concentrated, maybe not. Or perhaps the pigment is actually a yellow and not a red and we are seeing the pigment concentrated!!

Maybe excessive rain deprives the pigment, thus making "reds"

More rainy day "googles"


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[robl]

Some fagus pics. The season maybe three weeks earlier than 2014.

Twisted Lakes 18/04


Lake Agnew 20/04


Lake Agnew 20/04


Cradle Mt 20/04


Lake Huntley 26/04