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Fall foliage tracker: New England having an 'elite' year with majestic views elsewhere
The Independent • • nation
Key Points:
- Fall foliage in New England is expected to be exceptional this year, with ideal weather conditions of adequate rain, warm days, and cool nights contributing to vibrant colors, according to Kyle Cotner, known as the “Leaf Daddy.”
- Cotner, who runs The Foliage Report website, notes that while New England is having an elite foliage season, other regions like Colorado and parts of the Mountain West are experiencing duller colors due to drought stress.
- The changing leaf colors result from trees ceasing chlorophyll production as days shorten, revealing underlying pigments and producing reds when cold nights trap sugars in leaves.
- Foliage season varies widely across the U.S., starting in Alaska in mid-August and ending in Florida in late December, with Hawaii being the only state without fall foliage.
- Leaf enthusiast and nurse Kirk Giglio highlights the emotional and aesthetic value of fall colors, appreciating the natural vibrancy as a contrast to modern, urban environments.
