As a New Hampshire Innkeeper, I try to be an expert
on our state’s attractions. In the
upcoming months, I will blog about things to do and see in the state. But today being the last one in September, I
thought I’d attempt to address the most frequently asked question this time of
year;
When is peak?
My stock answer is I wish I had a crystal ball and a dozen
extra rooms for that week.
Seriously, it depends.
It depends on how wet the summer was. A few years ago we hosted a couple of high
school science teachers in August. They
declared it would be a long, colorful leaf season because there had been enough
rain that summer; the leaves weren't dying yet.
And they were right. That year
there was some color in the trees until Halloween.
It depends on the type of tree (maple, oak, birch) and the
stage in its life cycle. Here are some
resources about variety and color and the science of it all.
What I mean about life cycle may just be my own theory based
on observation, not scientific research.
Young trees tend to change and then drop their leaves in the slightest
breeze. Older trees don’t seem to want
to let go; some branches have already changed and shed while others are still
green. Maybe it’s a bit like my body –
my knees know my age but my mind holds fast to my 23 year old self. Here’s an example taken today of the maple
across the street at Quilted Threads.
It depends on your definition of peak and your appreciation
of random surprise color. Yesterday was
a bright sunny day but I was in a hurry.
Today it is spitting rain but I remembered to bring my camera. Here’s the tree whose color screamed “look at
me” while its neighbors are still very green.
Is peak when a tree is at its fullest color? When looking at the hillside you see more yellow,
red and gold than you see green? What
about those evergreens? And the Tamarack
that Phil planted in our back yard?
Tamaracks (also known as larch) are the only deciduous conifer and turn
gold after all the hardwoods have dropped their leaves. So it depends on the make-up of the woods you’re
looking at.
It also depends on where you’re looking. Here’s a photo taken today, in a valley, near
water, after driving along thinking maybe only 10% had changed so far. Want more color? Go low and find water ringed
by swamp maples. Or go north where there
have been more cool nights. When the
color has run out up there, travel south to find a little more.
All these photos were taken today. The sesaon has just begun and there are stunning colors to enjoy.
There are web sites where leaf spotters report on their
local conditions or algorithms forecast color changes. Just remember, beauty is in the eye of the
beholder and it depends.
