[harry chickpea]

In musing on peak foliage season, various trees, the effects of the early fall and moisture on color, and having seen just about all the variations, I wonder how others value the various factors. To me, a rock maple with Cardinal redness standing alone in a field still green is astounding. The white of birch bark is more fetching than the leaves of that tree as they turn. A hillside in full colour can often be less stunning than one where a few trees have accentuated the difference.

What, to you personally - and without the influence of those who would dictate what fall color is - do you find most beautiful? Skip the pablum of Vermont Life, and remember those scenes that made you just stop and go "Oh. My. G*d." Help us experience that, please.

[in_newengland]

To me, the memories that have made the most impressions were of walking down a dirt road and seeing a few huge maple trees absolutely glowing with color against that bright blue autumn sky. That's when I can't help but pull my camera out and take a picture of it. Bright orange foliage does it for me. Even one tree brightly dressed in orange against the blue sky is fabulous.

As for birch trees, I do love them but never realized how much I valued them until, upon reaching New England by car after a trip down south, I came upon a single white birch. Ah, that's New England. Before that I hadn't even known how much I missed them.

[Gemini1963]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

remember those scenes that made you just stop and go "Oh. My. G*d."

Driving east on Rte 125, after Breadloaf, descending from Ripton into Hancock during peak foliage. There were just some sweeping mountainside views that would almost make me cry they were so majestic.

This drone video ALMOST hints at it, but it's nothing like real life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH3y...ature=youtu.be

However, the blazing yellow aspens on the mountainside in Santa Fe, NM are also pretty wonderful.

[RobinG60]

Ah, Autumn in New England.
The very best time of my year.
I love the early color; those wet area trees that are racing into autumn color before the dry mountainside is even contemplating fall has arrived.
Or, that one tree in the field of green, showing off its Reddish/Orange glowing leaves.

But my favorite time of Autumn, is that perfect week in mid October, when the sun is still warm enough to heat up your shoulders and face, the breeze is cool and blows dried up leaves along the ground and everywhere you look, are those sleepy, many colored trees, of which the Orange sugar maple, is the tree I most favor.

These are the weeks I pray for only evening rains, so I can walk and explore the woods, noting not only the incredible tree displays, but the many toned red, white, yellow and orange mushrooms on the forest floor, the evidence of deer sleeping in a new spot, the toads and salamanders less visible and the sun setting at a lower angle each moment; wait, I'm not ready for this to end.

[tkln]

Ironically I find it the most lovely when the leaves are all on the forest floor - hiking, running or riding my bike through the rainbow carpet is my favorite. And then I love it when it dries up and crunches crunches crunches as you walk through....