Mother Nature is fooling trees

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Horticulturists in the state say Mother Nature is playing a trick on trees in Oklahoma.

At a time when leaves are usually starting to fall off branches, many trees are blooming and putting on new leaves.

Naturalist Janet Latham says the recent cooler temperatures and wet weather is making trees think its spring again.

She says that during the triple digit heat and drought, many plants and trees that normally bloom in spring went dormant. The cooler temperatures and moisture then made for perfect conditions for blooms to begin again.

Latham says there should be exceptional color in the trees in the next few weeks as long as there isn't a frost. However, a frost is possible this week, according to weather forecasters.