Vermont Fall Foliage Reports
2011 Foliage Season: Extended Colors in Southern Vermont
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October 25, 2011
"Several areas of just-past-peak color are enduring in the southern reaches of the Connecticut River Valley and its tributaries. Also, the rolling hills and farmland west of Middlebury and Rutland still display many colorful areas. Spotter Tom Olson from Pittsfield's New England Maple Museum reports, 'The brilliant yellow and gold of the late changing sugar maples and poplars combined with the russet and dark orange of the oaks are putting on quite a show in contrast with farmland, green meadows, and multicolor marsh grasses. Throw in some bright reds and oranges from road side sumacs and you still have a breath taking landscape.' Around and north from Bennington the lower elevations are just past peak with a predominant orange cast, says Forester Chris Stone. In southeast Vermont along the Connecticut River, the upper hills are past peak, but sheltered hillsides and town centers remain colorful. While the stick season has arrived in the higher elevations of central and northern Vermont, it is not without some significant splashes of post-foliage color. The late-turning tamarack, a deciduous tree that appears to be a conifer during the green season, is showing swatches of bright, lemon yellow across many hillsides, especially in the Northeast Kingdom. Bright clusters of enduring foliage color are also found in town and village centers in many parts of the state and on sheltered hillsides. It's the ideal time to observe the emergence of pumpkin people, not-too-distant cousins of the scarecrow clan, whose bright orange faces peer cheerfully from porches, lean on fence posts, and occasionally soar from haylofts." The Fall Foliage season in Vermont is one of the busiest times of the year while visitors flock from all over the world to witness the beautiful changing colors. This year it will be more important than ever to call ahead for reservations and check on Road Conditions. |
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The map is an approximation of the foliage color progression throughout the season. The changes generally spread from the higher, cooler areas of the Green Mountains down into the Champlain and Connecticut River Valleys (moving from north to south across Vermont). For more info, call Vermont's Seasonal Hotline at (802)828-3239 ...and tell them Vermont.com sent you! |
Parts of our updates are thanks to the USDA Forest Service, the Vermont Department of Tourism, and various "Leaf Peepers" around the state. If you'd like to be on Vermont.com's "Leaf Squad" to help report the Foliage conditions in your area of Vermont, please contact us!
REPORTS FROM AROUND THE STATE:
| NORTHERN VERMONT: |
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October 26, 2011  -- Jay Kerch, Owner, Phineas Swann Bed & Breakfast Inn |
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October 25, 2011 "In the wide midlands of the lower Champlain Valley, suggested drives include: Route 30 north from Pawlet to Cornwall. The hills surrounding Lakes Beebe and Hortonia are just past peak color, but bright and reflect beautifully in the lake water. Route 7 Middlebury to Wallingford. Peak in some areas, but past peak in others. Still showing abundance of yellow, gold and orange." -- Vermont Department of Tourism, Montpelier, VT |
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October 19, 2011  -- Stowe Area Association |
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October 12, 2011  "South Hero: On Landon Road, there is a trail we can follow that the South Hero Land Trust has created. This is where I found these shots. Some years our foliage is sharp, blunt. Some years, our foliage is soft, muted. I think we are having a soft, muted fall because we need it: through the record snowfall, spring floods, and the devastation of Irene-we have come through more resilient as a state. And we are now being treated to a gentler foliage,one that allows us to take a breath and enjoy our surroundings. While South Hero is not having an Apple Festival this fall, they are having on-going events. And don't forget to pick up your bushel of apples at Hackett's or Allenholm farms!And sometimes, you don't have to go any further than your own backyard :) The Making Strides against Breast Cancer walk is this coming Sunday, October 16th. I hope to capture some more shots along this event." -- Miriam Boyle, Burlington, VT |
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October 11, 2011  The fresh, crisp days of fall foliage have been filled with adventures to harvest festivals, pumpkin patches and church suppers. And while the colors are beginning to fade, if you plan to join us in the next week or so, there is still time for a relaxing get-away to enjoy the remaining colors of the Kingdom." -- Gloria Bruce, Executive Director, Northeast Kingdom Travel & Tourism Assoc. |
| CENTRAL VERMONT: |
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October 27, 2011 "Well, its snowing, and we still have foliage here in Danby. Our big oak tree is yellow, our ash and aspen are golden, and the staghorn sumac is red. Snow is really pretty on Foliage, and here in Vermont is one of the few places I have seen that happen. All in all, it has been a strange Autumn so far, with some color starting back in late August, and then delaying thanks to Irene, and then the foliage snuck in. There was lots of color, but since the Autumn has been so rainy and overcast we didn't get those brilliantly sunny days where you have to use sunglasses because of the glare off the trees. Now comes the raking, covering flower beds, taking in the bulbs for winter storage, and planting the rest of the spring bulbs before the ground freezes, which won't be for a few more weeks. Our last Autumn event of the season, the Haunted Orchard, runs this weekend, and amazingly enough there are still enough leaves on the trees to hide monsters galore. The shadows from the leaves on the trees in the evening add spookiness that usually isn't there, plus the crinkling as you walk through the fields and the smell of apples under the trees. This has been a good Autumn for outdoor events, with amazing color up at Little Rock Pond off Forest Road 10. But with the snow, the Forest Roads will soon be closing and cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling begin anew. I can already hear neighbors tuning up their engines and checking trails, trimming low branches that will be a hazard once the snow starts in seriously. Thank you to everyone who visited this Autumn, and we look forward to having you as our guests everywhere in Vermont next year. And to all you Winter Lovers I think ski season will begin Thanksgiving weekend this year, so see you all soon!" -- Cathy Preble, Owner, Silas Griffith Inn |
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October 25, 2011 "Route 3 from Pittsford south to West Rutland. The rolling hills still have good color. Route 4 from Rutland west to Castleton. Picture perfect ... a sure place to leaf peek. Route 22A Fair Haven north to Bridport. Sugar maples are peaking contrasting well with the green meadows, brown corn fields, and marsh grasses. Route 140 Wallingford to Middletown Springs, Route 133 from West Rutland to Tinmouth, Route 133 and Route 153 to Rupert and Wells where the hilly terrain and village greens still have brightly colored maples" -- Vermont Department of Tourism, Montpelier, VT |
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October 14, 2011  -- Patty McGrath, Owner, Inn at Long Trail |
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September 23, 2011  "Woodstock Quechee area getting very pretty. Some brilliant red trees and some changing a bit more slowly. Get out this weekend and discover some of the back road charm of the area. This is a view at Sugarbush Farm near Woodstock."-- Betsy Luce, Woodstock, VT |
| SOUTHERN VERMONT: |
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October 27, 2011  -- Melissa Gullotti, Communications Director, Windham Foundation, The Old Tavern |
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October 25, 2011 "In southern Vermont, suggested drives include Routes 7A or 7 from Manchester to Bennington, Route 313 in Arlington, Route 153 between Rupert and Wells, Route 315 near Rupert and Route 30 from Manchester to Rupert. To the east, Route 5 along the Connecticut River, Route 35 from Townshend to Chester, and Route 30 from Brattleboro to Newfane." -- Vermont Department of Tourism, Montpelier, VT |
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October 25, 2011  "I took Route 7 from Manchester to Bennington on Sunday and was amazed at how much color was still left on the trees! I also took a drive on Route 30 between Manchester and Pawlett on Monday, and there were still a few patches of nice color here-and-there. We're expecting a light snow-flurry this Thursday and I think it's safe to say that this will be the last week of the 2011 Foliage Season in Vermont. It's been a wonderful extended season, and I look forward to next year!While we may be at the end of foliage season, there are still great places to visit and things to do in Vermont, such as a Haunted Orchard, Corn Mazes, Petting Zoos, Concerts, and much more!" -- Renee-Marie Smith, Admin Asst & Graphic Design, Vermont.com Calendar of Events , Manchester Center, VT |
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October 18, 2011 "It's a funny thing about reporting 'foliage', because it constantly changes and not at all in a consistent manner. For example, there are two maple trees in my yard about 20 feet apart. (I live in Manchester.) They are on the same side of the house right next to the road. The are about the same size. One is about 75% bare and the leaves that remain are yellow. The other tree has only lost about 10% of its leaves and the ones that remain are half green half yellow. Trying to catch the foliage at its 'peak' is OK, but enjoying the process spread out over time is the real highlight of the season." -- Sandra Marsh-Koffman, Account Manager, Vermont.com , Manchester Center, VT |
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September 22, 2011 "We are definitely seeing some great color changes up here at 1,700'. More reds and oranges are starting to appear. There is still minimal leaf loss. We have had three frosts this week and some very nice warm days. All the roads are back open in this area, so everyone should take a nice drive around town." -- Kevin Golembeski, Owner, Bromley View Inn |
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September 21, 2011  -- Cyndee Frere, Owner, Snow Goose Inn |
A great place to stop while you're Leaf Peeping in Southern Vermont, is the Dutton Berry Farm Stands. Well known for their Vermont grown produce including farmer-grown fruits and vegetables, cider, maple syrup, plants, and other unique local products, the Dutton Berry Farmstands offer a cornucopia of great-tasting Vermont produce and products. Located on Route 11/30 in Manchester, Route 30 in Newfane, and Route 9 in West Brattleboro.
FOLIAGE TIPS:
Best Bets: During the earliest part of foliage season, viewing is more about elevation than location. Your best chances for spotting color are to 'get high' or 'get low.' Higher elevations with panoramic views will allow you to spot smatterings of color in the valleys below. Alternatively, you can 'get low' - marshy areas near bodies of water typically offer the first areas of foliage change and also offer a wide variety of tree species which enlarges the palette of early season colors.
Helpful Tip: Plan Ahead!
Foliage season is a very popular time to visit Vermont, so if you want to stay in a particular place on a particular weekend, call in advance to make sure rooms are available. Having your lodging plans made in advance will avoid unnecessary stress and allow you to enjoy your foliage season odyssey. Also too, it is a good idea to make dining reservations as early as possible in the day or even the night before.
When To Come For 'Peak' Foliage:
There is no one 'perfect' time to visit Vermont to see peak foliage. Color change begins in mid-September and runs through the first two to three weeks in October and varies by elevation, progressing from north to south and higher to lower elevations during the course of the season. As such, there are many 'peaks' so that you can make your plans based on the timing and location that works for you.
Science Behind the Leaves Changing Colors:
During the short summer months, broad-leafed trees such as maples, oaks and birches produce food to nourish themselves for growth. They do this through a process known as photosynthesis, using the energy of the sun to produce food. As the days grow shorter in early fall, the increasing periods of darkness trigger leafy plants to slow down photosynthesis and stop growing. A pigment in the leaves called chlorophyll (which gives leaves their green color) is used in photosynthesis, so the slowing of this process means there is less green pigment. But leaves contain pigments other than green, called carotenoids and anthocyanins. Once the greens fade, carotenoids are revealed (yellow, orange, and brown colors), anthocyanins and are produced (red and purple colors).
Certain colors are characteristic of particular plant species. Red maples live up to their name by turning scarlet, while most sugar maples glow a warm orange. Aspen and birches display sunny yellows, while oak and beech leaves turn bronze and gold. Most of Vermont's fall foliage color is provided by red and sugar maples, two resilient tree species that constitute more than 50 percent of our forest's trees. You can find even more details on leaves and their changing colors, courtesy of the US Forest Service: Why Leaves Change Colors
In 2010, Yankee Magazine, listed several Vermont towns in their slideshow of " Top 25 Foliage Towns in New England," including:
#3: Manchester, VT
#5: Middlebury, VT
#6: Waitsfield, VT (tied w/ 1 other town)
#10: Woodstock, VT (tied w/ 3 other towns)
#11: Grafton, VT (tied w/ 2 other towns)
#13: Jeffersonville, Montgomery, & Stowe, VT (tied w/ 2 other towns).
Find more info about Fall Foliage in New England, from photographer Jeff "Foliage" Folger.
from the Vermont Department of Tourism
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