Week of October 25, 2026 – October 31, 2026
by Anna Stunkel, Environmental Educator
Last weekend, chilly weather began to set in. On my way out the door for our watercolor leaf painting program, I realized it was time for the first day of wearing my purple owl hat this season! A thin layer of frost covered the leaf litter, branching out into spiky patterns.
We began the program by heading down the trails to gather a variety of fall leaves. There were plenty of maple leaves, but also a sprinkling of other kinds like huge basswood leaves, bright red Staghorn Sumac, and teardrop-shaped poplar leaves. Some were speckled, some were mostly uniform in color, and others had splotches as if someone had already painted them with watercolors.
Back in the Interpretive Center, we dumped the leaves out on the tables to take a look at the variety, choosing some of our favorites to paint. The fun thing about watercolor leaf painting is that it can be done in a very loose style, and there are many different techniques to try. The more water you add to the paint, the more it flows and colors blend together. Less water creates crisper lines and bolder colors. To add spots to the leaves, you can also try splatter painting with darker colors over a lighter background.
As we learned in this program, watercolor leaf painting can be a lot of fun for all ages. It’s also a nice seasonal activity to look forward to each year. By looking more closely at leaves, we can appreciate the colors and patterns that make up the bigger picture of fall foliage here in Central New York. Each leaf is a little different than the next, adding its own pop of color to the landscape. Next time you venture outside this fall, pick up a few leaves and see what colors and patterns you notice. Maybe you can even try painting them, too. This magic is here for a short time, so enjoy it while it lasts!