Fall Foilage Reports

It's that time of year again, when the out-of-area license plates start appearing en masse, and the bus trips start heading up I-91 into VT. The colors of autumn have begun making their first appearances around the Central MA area. My local barometer (the neighbor's sugar maple) actually started (as it always does) in the middle of August; since then, I haven't seen as many changes as in the past.

Last year we peaked late, the constant rains of last fall bringing that about. This year has been relatively dry. If I were to guess, I'd say that we are going to have a good year for color, but peaking around our average time in mid-October.

As always, I'll keep my eyes out during my travels and keep everyone posted.

The incandescent yellows that seem to be brighter than fire that can be found mixed with the evergreens in the high slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and the draws around Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah is a sure signal that autumn has arrived.

Mark

Mark, I don't think you're ever going to get anyone who has been through a few New England Autumns to ever vote for anything else. I have been in the Rockies for the aspens, and in the upper Midwest and Appalachia as well, and I have yet to see anything that compares with New England. Coming around that long seeping curve north into Pinkham Notch, driving the Kankamagus, cresting Evans Notch and looking south into the Mt Washington Valley, the vista over the white steeples of Randolph from I-89. Those sights are with me to this day and are the spectacles that I judge everything against.

AZBuck

AZBuck,

Yeah, I know those New England vistas are hard to beat. Here some some images from that area. Some of my favorite autumnal memories involve walking through a near-blizzard of falling leaves on a small country lane in New Hampshire. With almost no effort I can remember the aroma of the crisp early morning air and the surreal sound of that many leaves flluttering to the ground, but my point in posing this poll is to remind us that this annual change of the seasons can be witnessed in every part of the Americas....

Mark

The Upper Midwest doesn't even make that ballot!??!

I will admit that I haven't made it to New England during the fall (yet), but I have a hard time believing that the north east can be that much more spectacular than the brilliant color displays we can get in this part of the country.

I was up in the UP over the weekend, and there was just a hint of change, but give it about a month, and there will be some really specacular viewing to be had, driving through a sea of Red, Orange, and Yellow. With the hint of fall that's already in the air, I think this is going to be a very good year for color around here.

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

The Upper Midwest doesn't even make that ballot!??!

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Yep, that was a boo-boo. I have always liked the area around Wisconsin Rapids (in central Wisconsin) -- it is pretty fun to drive the Cranberry Trail this time of year and see the millions of cranberries in the fields.

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I will admit that I haven't made it to New England during the fall (yet), but I have a hard time believing that the north east can be that much more spectacular than the brilliant color displays we can get in this part of the country.

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Well said. I will add a category for the upper mid-west.

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I was up in the UP over the weekend, and there was just a hint of change, but give it about a month, and there will be some really specacular viewing to be had, driving through a sea of Red, Orange, and Yellow. With the hint of fall that's already in the air, I think this is going to be a very good year for color around here.

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We want details, details -- where to go and what there is to be seen!

Mark

Well, I'm personally biased towards the Mississippi River valley. The Hardwood Forested Bluffs really can explode with color from near the Twin Cities, down to around Dubuque, Iowa.

If you head farther north, there are limitless places, and you'll get a few more evergreen trees into the Mix. Up along the Great Lakes, Say the North Shore of Lake Superior between Duluth and Thunder Bay, The Apostle Islands in Northern Wisconsin, Pictured Rocks in the UP, or Door County, are all places with lots of good viewing opportunities.

And then of course, there is so much good forest land that sometimes you'll just run right into great foliage without trying. About 2 years ago, I was driving on just the right day to see peak color along I-90 near Wisconsin Dells. The Reds and Oranges were so brilliant, its really hard to describe.

The only places I've been to on this list during the fall are the Sierra Nevadas and Wisconsin/UP of Michigan.
Two Octobers ago I flew out to Green Bay for a Packers game and did some fishing up in Door County. That drive through Door County was absolutely breathtaking and the images still sit in my head. The day after the game I had nothing to do so I took a cruise up the UP to Escanaba, MI and I gotta say that this drive was just as beautiful. Colorful trees on one side, Lake Michigan on the other, deer all over the road, simply amazing.

Thanks,
Brett

I just drove through a section of the Colorado Rockies and I have never seen the hillsides change so quickly. The explosion of yellows and oranges on the Aspens is peaking right now allow the I-70 corridor between Vail and Denver and south down to Leadville and the surrounding canyons. At the current rate, much of the higher "blooms" will be over by next weekend. But, right now -- Ah!!!!!!!!!! it takes one's breath away!

Mark

Our colors are changing slowly, with more noticeable hues of red and orange creating a "halo" on many of the trees around the area.

Reminds me of Hostess Sno-Balls.

Anyway, in parts of my travels, I am noticing a lot of leaves on the ground. I know they're coming from somewhere, but the evidence on the trees themselves is lacking.

If the weather cooperates, we're planning a trip North tomorrow. I'll fill you in.