ST. PAUL, Minn. – Fungi are essential to bring out Minnesota’s fall colors, says state naturalist Brian Schwingle. A wet spring and summer, like this year, favors fungal leaf diseases that stress trees and lead to brilliant forests in the fall before the leaves eventually brown and drop. Essential too. Schwingle said, is a September with a lot of sunny days and cool but not freezing nights, nothing below 28 degrees, and minimal rain and no wind.
Image: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources