Excellent fall foliage expected in PA

(Harrisburg) -- Pennsylvania is entering the peak season for colorful fall foliage.

Deciduous trees like dogwoods, black gums and red maples are beginning to change in the midstate -- while vibrant colors are visible in the state's northern tier.

State Bureau of Forestry botanist Ed Dix says recent weather has created ideal conditions for fall colors. "If you have bright, sunny days, which promote those chemical changes in the leaves that are going to show the color and cool nights, cool but not freezing, so the leaves aren't blasted with frost and drop off," Dix says.

The commonwealth is home to some 134 species of trees.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provides weekly reports on fall foliage.