Taking a Spin in Late Fall Color

Photographing fall foliage in November requires luck and creativity!

Salem-fall-colors (1) — The tall black lamps harken back to Colonial New England or England. The fog wraps its cold finger around me on an early November morning.

On this day, the sun was hidden and the colors that remained on the trees on the Salem common were getting fewer each day. I walked along the path of the common which circles the park. I was enjoying the quiet solitude of having the park to myself. The sounds of traffic were muted by the fog. Salem is a very busy place in October but after November 1st, it becomes much more peaceful.

Salem-woods-path — A side street walk in Nov in Marblehead. The fall colors will arrive late in the coastal cities and with luck, will hang on till almost December. (barring storms)

Salem Witch House in November becomes very quiet

November means that most of the leaf-peepers are gone and the Kancamagus Highway probably has already had its first dusting of snow and thoughts of fall colors are reserved for memories and future planning.

But further South and closer to the coastlines the colors are still in evidence. If we have not had any big storms in October then there is a very good chance to find quiet little spots still full of colorful leaves. No there are only a few hillsides all ablaze in colors of Red and yellow.

Coastal Cities of Salem and Marblehead

Right outside my door lie the towns of Salem and Marblehead. They were in the 1700s towns of great wealth with the seafaring trade of the day with products coming in from around the world.

Today their “riches” are in the vacation trade. But after the vacation visitors have gone home, the towns remain and it’s during this quiet time that I love to take a walk along the leaf-covered sidewalks.

Anywhere along the coast from Ipswich to Plymouth and following the coast to Rhode Island and Connecticut, you will find these nuggets of gold (and russet red/brown)

What about the later fall arrivals?

Well, this is a double-edged sword. If we manage to go all through October with NO big weather events, then there is a good chance to have the fall colors still hanging on. 2017 was such a year with a heat wave staying with us till 4-5 October. On Nov 4th I found my way up in New Hampshire seeing what fall colors I could find.

I was very surprised to find any fall colors and let me state for the record, It was NOT widespread but there were lots of trees still holding on to their colorful leaves.

Henniker Covered Bridge New Hampshire is also known as the New England college covered bridge. View this in my gallery.

A drizzly day along the White River in Vermont has me watching the low clouds joining the fog on the White River along Vermont Route 14. Most of the color has passed but the oak is showing that they keep the autumn-fall foliage colors going. I love New England Fall Foliage in any of the New England states but in Vermont is a special feeling.

Most of the leaves on either side of the river that runs next to the college were tawny hues of brown and even here you get the sense that the colors are much more muted. but the waning sun gives them a more energetic brightness than I usually find on a November day.

As November arrives the cheerfulness that brought September and October to us now turns to a more somber mood. The days are more clouded with rain and fog occurring daily. Lisa and I usually will find ourselves heading up to Vermont to visit with family and on the way home if the mood strikes and the weather concurs, I’ll take side routes.

On one such day, Lisa and I got off the road near Royalton Vermont and we explored the small roads that run along the White River. The views were enticing but bare trees were the order of the day. but I did come across a vantage point above the river where we could see up the river without the brush obscuring the view

There was little breeze and the fog above the surface of the river was apathy enough to let me see the Oak trees that lined the low hills rising above the river.

Jeff Foliage Folger

Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage

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