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Foliage fading up north but plenty in MA/CT &RI
Travelers this weekend should look south for colors
by Jeff "Foliage" Folger
Petersham MA church shot on 13 Oct
Petersham Gazebo shot on 13 Oct. I have not photoshoped out the ladder on the ground on the left but this is the best angle since you can't see the two workers... :-)
The best tree on the Petersham town common. shot 13 Oct, Petersham MA near Quabbin Reservoir.
A tree lined street in Center New Salem MA shot on 13 Oct 08. Near Quabbin Reservoir.
Checking for treats.. 13 October. The one and only main street they have..
Making sure I didn't have a carrot I'd forgotten about... 13 Oct 08
They all of a sudden took off in sort of a buck and run... 13 Oct 08
They quickly quit clowning and one looked back at me to see if I was happy. 13 Oct 08 9still Center New Salem MA)
Greetings foliage seekers!
How was your search for color over Columbus Day weekend? Did you find what you were looking for or was it less than successful? Lisa and I started up north in VT and headed down to Barre MA and the Quabbin Reservoir. The color on Monday in this area was wonderful and it was the first time I drove the area during the Columbus Day weekend.
From what I head about the numbers of peepers up in the White mountains and the lakes region I'm glad I chose the Quabbin area. I saw one or two non-MA plates (unlike Vermont) and we scoured the little back roads and village town commons looking for idyllic white churches and town halls.
We stopped in Petersham MA. The color was splendid but the church picked now to put a political statement up on the front of the church. I believe in the right for free speech as well as the next person I just wish they wouldn't do it during fall foliage season. So the church was scratched. Then came the old town hall. It had workmen painting the front with a cherry picker (a green one) standing in front of the building. The gazebo had fallen into disrepair and they chose this fall to repair it...
I take comfort that if you save this one blog entry and next year you go to Petersham around Columbus Day you will see a beautiful town common to frame your pictures.
Lisa and I continued our drive and found as I stated before, Center New Salem on the NW side of the reservoir. If Lisa and I could figure out how to make a living in this area and afford a house on the town common... We would. (Except Lisa says it's too far from the Ocean) So I guess we'll stay in the "other" Salem.
I found no cars lining the single street, except mine... and I noticed there were a few horses in a paddock to one side of the road and that dragged my attention from the color at the top of the street. I obviously looked like I would have a carrot since one horse came over to me to check for treats. Since non were forthcoming he moved on. I found there were three others in the paddock and I happened to be ready to capture them as they jumped into a bouncing run that only happens when you're usually not ready. I snapped a few shots of them before they stopped clowning around.
Continued tomorrow in Part 2!
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Reader Comments
Comment from Bob Davis on October 16, 2008
My wife and I and another couple from So. California are heading to Boston and the surrounding area this w/e thru 10/28. We'd love any suggestions that you might be able to provide for searching out the best fall colors. We'll generally be in the Boston area thru Tuesday, 10/21, and then head to Ludlow, VT, for Wed/Thurs, and wide open for the balance of our stay. We have no problem with taking 200-300 mile day trips on any of these days, particularly if that will take us thru the "best" scenery. Thanks for any help that you can provide.
Comment from Jeff Folger on October 16, 2008
Well I would login on the forum and ask this there also. That said.. If all you are looking for is fall foliage you will be spending all your time in CT and RI. I would say pick up a CT/R a map book and have fun exploring. But if you want to really see all the great things that New England has to offer then decide on what things you would like to see. Lighthouses, we have them and lots of them. Keene NH has their pumpkin festival on the 25th and you can hit events in all the states (hit google) You have a chance to visit Salem and the haunted happenings and all the crazy things there. I hope this helps a little and be sure to stop in on the forum where we can address specific questions more fully. Jeff "Foliage"
Comment from Jeff Folger on October 17, 2008
Also on the yankeefoliage.com page there are several CT and RI scenic drives plus if you use the map books you can crisscross these scenic byways to really see some spectacular color and small towns... Jeff "Foliage"
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