More bright colors starting to pop on leaves, but most are still green

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 September 2025 at 5:05 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers: One of the trees near the canal at State Street Park in Medina has seen about a 50/50 transformation in the color of its leaves, changing from green to vibrant red.

There are more bright colors on the landscape locally and across much of New York State.

I Love NY in its weekly fall foliage report on Wednesday said throughout most of the state leaf colors are starting to change.

The Hudson Valley, Long Island and New York City are still very green. But the rest of the state is seeing some color change for foliage.

“Colorful fall foliage continues to emerge across New York State, with the most significant changes once again expected in the Adirondacks and Catskills,” I Love NY stated in its update.

Spotters for the report say Albion has experienced more than a 5 percent change in leaves “with an average to bright mix of autumnal hues.”

In Monroe County, there is less than 10% change in Rochester “with touches of light-green to yellow mustard, and a few hints of orange.”

In Erie County, there is a10% change in Buffalo “with a mix of emerging fall colors.”

In Niagara County, Lewiston is seeing a 10 percent change with bright red and yellow leaves, mostly on maples and sumacs.

Wyoming County reports a 15% change at Letchworth State Park in Warsaw with a mix of fall colors.