I see plenty of signs of heat and draught distress in the trees around south Raleigh but a lot of the color is on Tulip Poplars which lose their spring leaves about now anyway. They are one of the earliest yellow fall color trees I know. You can usually see them sprinkled with yellow leaves by mid August, then they turn completely yellow by October. They say that hot and dry makes for a glorious fall foliage display - we'll see.

I have some kind of tree that has leaves that are turning red. Since I am still learning the flora, I don't know what it is..but I was wondering if it had anything to do with that week of nights in the 50's not too long ago. What turns red early?

I don't believe in the adage about dry makes for good fall color. In drought years the color has been mediocre to abysmal. In 1999 there was unbelievable fall color; a drought followed by record rainfall followed by a month of no rain followed by Irene in early October...

Sourwood, Arrowwood and Sassafras can turn red. The only one that I think might be turning this early would be Arrowwood. It is usually a dark brownish red. So much of the color is variable it is hard to say what colors up which color.

My ridiculous barlett pear (came with the house) is turning red. I have two near each other and one is turning red and the other isn't. Also, there are dozens on my street and none of them are turning red. I wonder if it's disease or pest-related. Hope that isn't the case with yours though.

Driving home today, I saw a whole group of bartlett pear trees in the median on Freeman Mill Road that were a bright yellow color. Right next to them was a group of crepe myrtles that looked fabulous -- if it ever rains, I'm going to get me some red or pink myrtles, I love them and they seem to tolerate the heat & drought beautifully.

Change that bartlett pear to bradford pear in the last posting, it was 101 yesterday and the heat must have affected my brain.

I saw a gorgeous stand of something bright red down here in Sanford, and then realized it was a big ol' clump of poison ivy!!

The sassafras is turning some, so are some of the sorrell trees. Sorrell trees are often one of the earliest to turn in the fall. Turning this early as OP said is a symptom of heat and drought stress.

I'm near Charlotte, and my Silver Maple is orange and red right now. Haven't noticed any others changing color, but the dogwoods look to be dying :(.

I've noticed a sugar maple in a school parking lot, River Birches, and Tulip-trees turning colors. Also noticing trees dropping "nuts" earlier. Maybe they gave up early and dropped bad seeds to save energy for a better crop.

I heard that fall color is best affected by a moist early fall that leads up to a dry mid-fall (the time for peak color) with consistent temperatures in the forties at night time. I know that the adequate moisture in the early fall allows for the leaves to produced their sugary magic, which leads to a good fall display??!!

My Redbud has started changing to yellow. Theresa.

I have some woods behind my yard and there are some trees back there that are fully brown leaved now and I've got leaves all over the ground in the back yard. Most of the trees are still green however--but I could rake if it weren't so hot. Maryt

Our sycamores look dreadful... they're dropping leaves like crazy. The poplars look a little better, but not much. This whole area is blanketed with long leaf pines and most of them are turning brown... common around here during drought. I'm worried about the sycamores, though... most were planted about 14 years ago and have gotten really tall but don't have the massive trunks yet. I'll be heartbroken if we lose any!

I'm noticing several oaks turning totally brown on my commutes to and from RTP. Also the Tulip Trees and Sycamores are showing stress droppage. Maples are getting droopy as well. I had to give in and water my fall planted trees...they made it through the freeze and I CAN'T lose them now!!