New England Foliage Blog →
New England Fall Foliage Recap for 2008!
Thoughts of the fall we shared together
by Jeff "Foliage" Folger
A clock in Salem with a backdrop of leaves that at anytime will be on the ground and the season over.
Peeking through the branches to see the colors
The leaves always start above but always end up below. Only to nourish next years growth. Such is the circle of life.
The last tree still holding on to its leaves. All the other maples and even the oaks out my window had dropped their leaves all but this young maple.
Lisa and I found a covered bridge in Montgomery VT and these steps and foundation were next to it. We have no idea of the purpose but its fun to wonder the who and why of it.
Did I say I love reflections? :-)
Hey did everyone have a great fall?
It seems like I just had the windows open and was listening to the cicada drone on. The days were warm and my biggest worry was what the fall foliage season would be like!
What a glorious foliage season it was! Were there disappointments? Sure but those rainy days provided their own special beauty and I ran into my own share of rain on trips through the New England country side.
Do I hope for a sunny day (or slightly cloudy day?), yes!!! I love the late afternoon sun slanting in to light up the far shore on a pond. The tree lined shore reflecting a perfect image in the water that reflects like a mirror.
You may have gotten tired of my writing about all the folks asking when and where peak would be and as always my answer was, "It depends!"... Which I'm sure never pleases you, my readers.
A few rules for an enjoyable foliage trip...
If you only have 2-3 days to explore, you will either kill yourself trying to find the mythical peak... (Yes I said mythical).
Peak is in the eye of the beholder and each year it shows up at different times and in different places. (If At All!!) Hence, why I always tell you "it depends".
Predicting peak... if you listened to my advice or the advice of the foliage forum regulars and you attacked your trip with a different goal in mind, then you probably had a good fall trip.
The goal (in my opinion) should be to explore a single area thoroughly and really enjoy what you find. Maybe you found some peak color or a clam/lobster shack that you never tried before or a museum that has antique train engines.
Many first time visitors try to cover one or more states in a single weekend and while you can drive the length and breadth of New England in a weekend, it's a killer. I always suggest getting a room in a single motel/hotel/B&B that is comfortable and allows you to relax for the night.
Maybe it has a common room where all the other guests gather in front of a roaring fire and you share stories of sights seen that day. Who knows maybe you even make new friends.
In the end, the season was difficult to predict (as always) and even though some of you wrote in that you were disappointed in the show, a clear majority wrote in that it was the most impressive show you've seen in years.
Did my color trips to spot color help you in your plans? I hope so, since getting out on the road and letting you know what I find is a big reason for me doing it.
Below is a poem by Robert Frost. He says it best about our search for fall color.
Out through the fields and the woods And over the hills I have wended; I have climbed the hills of view And looked at the world, and descended; I have come by the highway home, And lo, it is ended.
The leaves are all dead on the ground, Save those that the oak is keeping To ravel them one by one And let them go scraping and creeping Out over the crusted snow, When others are sleeping.
And the dead leaves lie huddled and still, No longer blown hither and thither; The last lone astor is gone; The flowers of the witch hazel wither; The heart is still aching to seek, But the feet question "Whither?"
Ah, when to the heart of man Was it ever less than a treason To go with the drift of things, To yield with a grace to reason, And bow and accept the end Of a love or a season?
I hope to hear from you next season and if you have any questions please feel free to ask them here in the comments section or over in the foliage forum and I and the other forum regulars will do their best to answer them
Reader Comments
Comment from tackit on December 8, 2008
Jeff thank you for taking us on your wonderful Autumn motorcar sight seeing trips, you're knowledge of the region and photography adds so much to the foliage forum.
And thanks to all of you who shared your travel stories.
A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all who come this way. Tackit
Comment from Jeff Folger on September 8, 2009
Thanks and hopefully you will get over here some day and enjoy it in person.
Registered users can add comments.
Registration is free, and just takes a moment.
Login or Register.