It is the time of year when you start reading about "leaf peepers." Unfortunately, in Texas we don't get the pleasure of the seeing the glory of autumn, but I do remember a short trip to Boston and New England during peak season and it was so gorgeous. Remembering those vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges always makes me smile. Where have you been that took your breath away?

Usually there are several places along my daily commute. One year there was an incredibly colorful tree in the yard across from my bank's drive-up window. Some years my road has been a tunnel of golden yellow maple leaves. The sun hits it just right and they are all perfect. But, generally, much of the year I turn one corner to see green hay fields bordered by beautiful woods. As I get closer to home another turn past a different farmer's hayfield gives me a view of the mountain in the next town. It's more colorful in fall but I happen to love Spring the best. But when the days get cooler I'll come home to find my husband has started up the cookstove to take the chill off. And if I'm really really lucky, somewhere on the way home I'll see a 4-H kid out with a young team of oxen.

My freshman year of college in Lynchburg, Virginia which is about 15 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Northerm Wisconsin (north of Hwy 64) during the last full week of September.

Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania.

http://www.hawkmountain.org/default.shtml

Ooh, Hawk Mountain is beautiful for foliage. The best I've ever seen is along the Lehigh Gorge in Jim Thorp, PA.

The north shore of lake superior north of dultuth, mn.

Blue Ridge Parkway
Traverse City, MI (big (?) bear dunes)
Up-state NY, just across from Canada

UP of Michigan, especially in the Keweenaw peninsula near Calumet.

My backyard in Southern Vermont. See picture second from end. (I'm such a lucky person to live where I live!)

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...0&h=1&y=mrgk6g

Cyn

Great pictures Cyn! They look like my "neck of the woods" as well here in NW Wisconsin. Just wanted to compliment you on your photography. What kind of a camera do you use? Just wondered........

From Texas--the Great Smokey Mountains.

However, Connecticut is my favorite because of the beatiful little pre-Revolutionary towns, farms, housses, etc.

From a distance, across my lake (Big Fish) in MI. The other side is just scarlet, orange, yellow on and on.

Sometimes when driving I descend some steep hills into the area that comes before the Des Plaines & I&M Canal regions- they are forested. It looks like you are diving into a bowl of color. Close as we are to a big city in IL, some of the areas are awesome.

Also West, many places near ski towns. Aspens flash/sparkle and then the yellows. Upper WI & MI are awesome on huge scales.

This is going to be an early peak year since the trees are starting already. The first hints of yellow are starting on the tips of a few trees in Northern IL right now.

Central New Hampshire -- colors so vivid that my photos look like bad paint-by-numbers pictures.

Thanks for your kind words Pam - no credit to me, though - it's all the camera! It's a Panasonic FX30, which I really love. It's great for the wildlife, as it has a 12x digital zoom.

Cyn

cyn, those pictures are stupendous.

My woods/color views are farther away and you can see the distinct edges of yours better, deep contrast in color lines. Fabulous. We have swan, and I wish I had your photographic skills.

JJ5: Thanks - but I am just really lucky, and patient, and I take a lot of pictures, so I have to get lucky sometimes!

Swan! White? Black? Where do you live - I would love to see a swan come into our little pond!

Cyn

A few years ago we had outstanding color in Door county Wisconsin in mid October. I have also experienced that several times in SW Wisconsin bluffs during the 2nd or 3rd weekend in October.

It is my opinion that you need to catch a sunny day and just right conditions which change yearly depending on moisture and weather.

Since I spend a lot of time in WI at this time of year, I would always gamble on the 10th-15th of October in that part of the country for peak color.

Vermont

Yes, Vermont is spectacular, and the last time I was there a native told me that if I liked the foilage in Vermont I should go to New Hamshire where it is better. But I've never had a chance to go to NH.