New Englanders - Are trees turning earlier this year?

Vermonters - I had Vermont on the "Tagged" list, and it showed up in the preview before i posted. Not sure why it was chopped off on the actual post!

I haven't noticed any major difference. 2 of the trees near us have a couple of leaves that started turning color; but I'm pretty sure it was about the same time last year for these 2 particular trees.

[I live a few miles W of Boston.]

Usually they turn early in a dry year. There are always a few show offs that show bits of color early, but we don't seem to be seeing anything unusual in Maine. However, apparently there's a blight due to the 'wettest summer on record' that's causing some species to drop leaves early. That's why you may be seeing dried up brown leaves under some trees when there are still green, healthy leaves on the tree.

I'm a little north of Concord NH. I've only seen a couple of trees that show some color change but usually it's not pretty. We have an old swamp maple next to the driveway that is turning a pale reddish brown. The other maples are still quite green. The swamp maples turn red earlier than other trees which can make for some pretty looking swamps but I haven't seen those turn yet. However, with night time temps in the 40s it could happen any time. Some trees look like the green is fading. A friend with a camp in northern NH says color can change overnight. I don't think it changes that quickly around here. To me, it's always a long, slow change and last year, I never figured out when peak was. I think for the past few years I've thought we were going to get early color and then it doesn't happen. I think maybe the states' tourist bureaus have a deal worked out with mother nature to get everyone excited as early as possible. I will guarantee however that due to the long, wet cold non-summer, the recent great weather weekends have generated very heavy traffic on Rt 93. North of Concord we've seen traffic backed up late Sunday afternoons to exit 17. We've seen people get off at exit 18 to take backroad alternate routes.

Just went for a great hike yesterday, very pretty but no color changes in Southern NH yet.

No signs of anything here in my small city just south of Boston. Individual trees will turn early if they're stressed.

Nothing out here in western MA.

Thanks to all who have replied so far. I have seen trees with what looks like faded green as well as some individual colored leaves and some branches that have changed.

A little color change this early is not unusual here, but it just seems like there is more going on earlier than normal. Maybe the odd weather is making me imagine things!

Not around area north and west of Boston either. "Stressed" trees and branches will change color earlier - stress in this case is things like drought (not around here this summer!), damage from insects, environment, trauma; root system damage; etc. Maybe that is what is going on.

Hello, Stupid ?? but when would you suggest to make the visit, is Sept 24 to early?

1st time attempthing this, hubby wants to see dinasour prints in Connectitcut, the free to do what ever. Planning on 4 days

Di

Well, who knows, but I would guess Sept 24 might be a little early for CT. Maybe ok farther north (say southern VT border?)

Are you aware that the Amherst College natural science museum has the world's largest collection of dinosaur tracks? Not that you should skip seeing them ``in situ'' in CT, but you might enjoy the visit.

I went up to Manchester yesterday (4th Sept) and while I did note one or two trees with some color to them 3 out of 4 were dark red leaves or droopy leaves which denotes stress.
I don't think we'll see much color before late Sept and that will be up north in VT, NH, ME.
But if we get some good frosty nights going and warm afternoons.. then anything is possible so watch the weather channel.
In Salem MA we're in the mid 50s at night so we have a ways to go. (And I'm not interested in getting there any sooner than I have to...! I'm still waiting for my summer!!!)
Jeff Foliage

I was saying to my husband today that it seemed like some trees were starting to have some early signs of changing. I'm in southern Maine. Oh, how I love Maine during the fall. The beautiful weather we are finally having makes up for the wet summer.

Actually spotted a swamp edged with red swamp maples yesterday just north of Concord NH. Took a different route past another swamp and that one wasn't colored at all.

Hmmmm......

So does it turn out the leaves ARE changing earlier this year????

Just a tiny bit here... still fairly green!

Just returned from my weekly work drive to Central Mass - thru some of the hills around Worcester. Very little color except in swamps and where trees were stressed by a December ice storm.

Just retuned from my weekly work drive to Western Mass/Taconic/Berskshires. Very little color except in swamps and where trees where stressed by a December ice storm. Some birch trees are starting to show a little yellow, and a few sugar maples are showing some orange on the fringes, but not much beyond that.

Thanks for the updates!

Concord NH area is definitely starting to turn. There's some spots along brooks with lots of color. Just starting to see spots of color in the distance in the hills. Cold front is moving in tonight with temps in the 30s. Had a light frost last weekend. Huge amounts of pine cones this year supposedly indicative of a cold winter ahead.

Huge amounts of pine cones this year supposedly indicative of a cold winter ahead.

Really? That's NOT what I want to hear. I've also noticed tons of pine cones around here, way more than last year.

yk, bundle up! The Farmers Almanac has also predicted a cold winter. I need a new pair of winter boots so I hope it doesn't snow before Halloween like it did one year. That was the year it never melted until April or May. I remember some folks in my town shoveling off gardens so daffodils could bloom.

I am in north central Vt and color is definitely starting here, but it usually does start by late September. We are supposed to have a cold night tonight which might speed things up. I don't think it is much earlier than usual.

This all sounds so good to me. we leave in 5 days will be in Stowe for the Columbus Day long weekend (& driving up from Boston over the preceeding week). How perfect if it was cool............ so excited. Supposed to be 34deg C here today (93deg F) and its only early spring!

Still deciding what sort of coat/jacket to bring. I'm guessing layering will be the key?

We're seeing scattered color around Rutland. Some of the mountains also are showing colors, including some pretty reds and oranges. The white birches tend to be more yellow, of course. Our local TV stations show heavier color underway in the Northeast Kingdom.

By the way, for foliage in the fall, much is said about the beauties of Rte 100 in Vermont, but Route 7, between Manchester (VT) and Rutland can be gorgeous, too, when you look over to the east at the Green Mountains!

We live on a high ridge, where we're blessed with daily views of gorgeous color in autumn right from our deck! We planned and worked for some years to be able to retire to just such a spot. We love it here, and we feel blessed to be here!

aussie, since you aren't aclimated to the cold, you might feel it more. I did some garden work yesterday in a tee shirt but wore a jersey and sweater to dinner. The restaurant had their fireplace going and I added a fleece jacket when we left at 9pm. Nights are 40s and 50s but you should expect some below freezing nights by the time of your visit to the Stowe area. Which reminds me ... make sure your rental car has a windshield scraper just in case. Layers will work well. You might want a warm hat and gloves.

RetiredVermonter, I think most of VT is gorgeous so you are right, if people explore other areas besides Rt 100, they will see some great scenery.

My husband and I drove from the Montpelier, Vt area over to Addison County in the western part of the state south of Burlington yesterday. There is almost no color yet in Addison and Chittenden counties. As I indicated above, we are seeing some good early color around here now.

Yesterday was a gorgeous fall day. We visited Rokeby, a National Historic site in Ferrisburgh south of Burlington. This is a place we have driven by for years w/o having time to stop. Yesterday was Museum Day with free admission to the site and we were headed to Burlington for the evening so we decided it was time to see Rokeby. It is a fascinating place--the home of a Quaker family for four generations and full of original furnishings and artifacts. We were the only people on the 2:00 tour. The guide was great and we learned a lot about Merino sheep farming, the abolitionist movement in Vt and New England history in general. There are walking trails behind the house. (We ended up giving a donation of more than the usual admission fees would have been)

I agree with retired Vermonter that Route 7 on the southern stretch he mentions is a very nice drive. But beware that farther north and especially north of Shelburne into Burlington it is very congested and built up for a while--not at all good for leaf peeping.

Just retuned from my weekly work drive to Western Mass/Taconic/Berskshires. A little more color compared to last week but still predominantly green. You can see patches of red/yellow here from the sugar maples turning. Birches are mostly yellow now, and are quick to drop their leaves in a rain/wind storm.

One more week should be getting near perfect. There's a fine line between lots of brilliant color in a sea of green quickly transitioning to bare trees mixed with brown.

It's getting pretty colorful in the Concord NH area. Some early color in wet areas is already dropping. It's really hard to tell but now I'm seeing color among the greens in the distant hills. So, looks like I was wrong about it being early. It's pretty much on schedule for Warner Fall Foliage Festival over Columbus Day weekend.

Foliage is peak or close to peak now in the Northeast Kingdom and north central Vermont. Pretty much on the usual schedule. Unfortunately it is raining today and probably at least part of tomorrow.

We are headed down to The Festival of the Hills in Conway, MA this weekend. Conway is a hill town just off of I-91 (S. Deerfield exit) and this is a good foliage festival if you are in the area.

We were away for a whole week, and I was surprised that it still looks pretty green here in Boston when we got back yesterday. There are some colors and leaf-drops, but still quite green!

Just retuned from my weekly work drive to Western Mass/Taconic/Berskshires. Still a lot of green, but much less since last week. The green that's present is more muted. Still some brilliant reds and oranges, and much more yellows. Very few if any bare trees.

While probably not the definition of true peak it's pretty close to peak in my book. One windy rainstorm and the early colors (reds/orange) will drop leaving bare spots.

Another week and the oaks will have mostly turned from green to brown/deep red and the brilliant colors will be gone.

Mid Hudson valley isn't far behind.

Get out and peep while the gettin's good!

We are starting to lose leaves in north central Vt after all the rain storms, but the color is still good. I drove from Morrisville to Montpelier on Rte 12 yesterday and the hills were beautiful. Today is the weather forecaster's "pick of the week" and our friend who is visiting from D.C. should have a good day for peeping.

We just returned from a three day trip to the White Mountains on Tuesday night. It wasn't at peak yet, but the color was gorgeous. My husband and I prefer it slightly before it's officially "peak" because we'd rather see green mixed in than brown. The odd thing was, when we drove further north, the color seemed to be at the same level.

I must say, it's just about peak color now where I live (~9 miles West of Boston).

Just retuned from my weekly work drive to Western Mass/Taconic/Berskshires. Very little green at all. Most of the brilliant, early sugar maples are now bare. Oaks have turned crimson. Lots of color - mostly yellow with red/brown mixed in. Slightly past peak but still beautiful color.