The Rural Intelligence Leaf-Peeper’s Primer
Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower.
That’s quite a hopeful sentiment coming from Albert Camus. For myself, it’s a bittersweet moment when I see my first variegated leaf. It’s always too early — where has the summer gone? — and yet, Camus is right: it’s the signal of the beauty to come. In the interest of helping our readers plan their foliage expeditions, we’ve compiled a list of resources for you to consult as the season offers up its gifts. I suggest you bookmark this page so you can come back to it frequently.
While last year's foliage show came late, meterologist David Epstein says that New England is on track to see a more standard season for leaf-peeping in 2019.
One of the best fall foliage predictors I've found is courtesy of New England Foliage, a Yankee Magazine offshoot. Press play and you operate a nifty foliage map that shows the progression of color day by day. New England Foliage also has an archive of fall-focused articles, everything we at Rural Intelligence don’t have the staff to compile. It’s got great info: foliage drives, corn mazes, apple orchards, fall foliage train tours. Not necessarily in the RI region, but you can’t beat Yankee Magazine for everything New England you never knew you wanted to know.
At smokymountains.com, the fall foliage prediction map estimates when fall foliage will peak nationwide. This interactive map colors itself in as the days and months progress. And for you science types, it also offers some lovely illustrations and explanations: what creates the colors, why leaves fall (to burden me, of course), and what happens to the falling leaves (the ones I don’t have to rake and bag).
Here are some other websites you can check.
The Foliage Network publishes foliage reports on Mondays and Thursdays during September, October and November. The Weather Channel has a fall foliage peak times map.
To get specification state information, I Love New York gives weekend reports, along with the best foliage spots and a New York leaf identifier. Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection offers an estimated date of peak foliage, as well as scenic views and fall foliage driving routes (the Traditional New England itinerary is approximately 100 miles, and begins and ends in Torrington).
Massvacation.com suggests foliage tours and specific locations to watch the color show.
Road trippers will appreciate Leaf Peeper,Yankee Magazine’s foliage mobile app.
But really, as the Connecticut Department of Energy says, don't worry about missing "peak" color. You will still be able to enjoy a full array of colors that can be found before "peak."
So go forth and peep! And please, let us know if you've found the ultimate color-drenched vista.
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