State Foliage Report for October 7th, 2008

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Vibrant Color Emerges in Vermont’s Southern and Western Counties

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Foliage will continue to brighten through the highland mountain valleys and begin to sweep into the lower valleys along Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River during the coming week.

With classic autumn weather of sunny days and crisp, frosty nights dominating the forecast into the holiday weekend, viewing will be excellent throughout Vermont.

Best Bets: Northeast Kingdom roads and highways along the region’s many lakes and rivers are in full brilliance. “Some of the best viewing is over large bodies of water where the colors are mirrored in the waters surface,” says Lamoille County Forester Raymond Toolan. “Lake Eden, Lake Elmore, Lake Willoughby, Lake Memphremagog and Crystal Lake are all good choices.” While leaves are beginning to come down at the higher elevations, good color persists through the valleys and villages.

In central Vermont, Route 12 between Montpelier and Northfield along the Dog River is at full color. Deer, turkey and occasional moose sightings in the fields closest to wooded borders, especially where there are apple trees, have been reported. Suggested drives include Routes 100, 100B, 2, 12A and 14.

Foliage in the higher mountain valleys is not quite as bright, but has a mature, rich tone with more yellows and oranges, while the bright reds fade to a rich burgundy color. Protected eastern slopes and valleys will tend to hold best color over the next couple of weeks, according to foresters.

Good color will be found along Route 100 from Stockbridge to Killington, especially where the highway follows the White River.

Near peak color is emerging in the broad Champlain Valley and down the west sloping mountain sides from East Middlebury south to Manchester. Suggested are Route 125 thru Ripton, Route 73 from Rochester to Brandon, and Route 4 Killington to Rutland.

North/south highways with bright emerging color include Route 7 from Middlebury through Rutland to Manchester, Route 22A from Poultney to Bridport, and Route 30 through Castleton, Cornwall, Pawlet and Dorset. Looking east and west, these highways offer beautiful views of rolling meadows, amber corn fields, freshly plowed fields and bright fall colors on the hills and distant mountains. Amazingly, the soft maples in the low, moist areas are still holding on to their full peak colors of brilliant red and orange.

Despite some leaf drop at the higher elevations, the Route 9 highlands between Bennington and Brattleboro will be colorful through the weekend. Routes 11 and 30 between Manchester, Londonderry and Winhall are exhibiting near peak and peak conditions. “This coming weekend and next week will have some of the best foliage viewing in southwestern Vermont,” says Bennington County Forester Nate Fice.

In the Connecticut River Valley, the foliage is midstage to near peak along the higher elevations with a contrasting mix of still green leaves in the lower valley areas. Suggested drives include Routes 5, 30, 103 and 106.