State Foliage report no. 1 issued September 16th, 2021

[admin]

Its full ahead for the 2021 Season

Another colorful Vermont fall is just around the bend. The bounty of harvest season at orchards and farmstands and the freedom to explore Vermont’s outdoors await. Each week this report will update where to find the best color in the state, direct from Vermont’s Commissioner of Forests, Parks, and Recreation..

he landscape is still overwhelmingly green, but the vibrancy of summer leaves has started to fade, replaced by pale greens and muted yellows. Notable early color is beginning, especially splashes of red maples showing off in wetlands, roadsides, and scattered across hillsides, as well as flourishes of yellow from beech and cherry that are already turning. In between looking up to find the splendor in the trees, remember to look down and experience the shrub layer below the forest as aster, goldenrod, woodbine, sumac, and other flowers and ferns showcase their splendid colors, too.

This year's growing season for the trees has been good, though pockets of the state have experienced drought and heightened incidence of defoliation from insects like maple leafcutter and LDD moths and anthracnose fungus, which benefitted from the rainy start to the season. Central and Southern Vermont have moved out of the drought experienced earlier this year, and in localized areas drought will likely have an enhancing effect on fall color, but in places with severe drought the foliage display could be affected. Impacts like these will be interesting to watch as the season progresses.

Despite these potential impacts, once again the season is shaping up to be a beautiful one. The recipe for glorious fall foliage in the weeks to come will be seasonable fall weather: cold, crisp nights; sunny days; and occasional rain. As long as these ingredients come together, the trees will take it from there.

BEST BETS: 

Areas in the north and higher elevations are the best places to spot early color this week. Consider exploring the spine of the Green Mountains or Essex, Caledonia, and Orleans counties.

[bobbav]

Exciting update!

We’ll be staying in Warren this year, driving from Litchfield county, CT. Heading up there the weekend of October 15. Hoping to catch progressive color through Southern VT as we head to Warren where we hope it will be peak or just past peak.

Thanks for the 1st update!