Maybe instead of rules, we should say “guidelines”. Because most people will tell you, who have any experience at all, rules are meant to be broken. In 2012 during September, we were getting low temperatures in the 40s and upper 30s ALL across New England.

This caused early fall color to show up in southern New England as well as northern New England. Do you want to talk about confused photographers? Each year people ask me “what’s going to happen?” Each year, I make an educated guess based on 20 years of observing and searching for the fall colors in New England. I never say “I know what’s going to happen” but I will say this may happen…

What are the basic rules of fall foliage?

As you can see in this weather channel map which really confuses me, they indicate by the color dark red that its only peak in the bright red areas. The map is showing where some meteorologist thinks it should be peak and when. In late September (between the 25th and 30th), we should see bright colors in the brownish areas from Maine into northern New York. At first, I was confused because brown to me indicates faded past fall colors…

That brownish swath of color crossing four states would make a lot of us happy if it happened like this. In reality, it would be polka-dotted across this same area. Also, some dots are large and some are small. There is no uniform way to accurately depict this and that is what is wrong with these maps. It gives people the idea that all through these areas it is uniformly at high or peak color. This just doesn’t happen, even in the best years.

Even in the years where I and other predictors call for early autumn, the fall colors are never uniformly peak across all areas…

On this one particular year of 2015, by 4 October people were complaining that the fall colors were gone, but what really happened is that the low temps had been back up in the 40s to 50s. This means we went back into a slow-burn which made it frustrating for folks to find where to go for the fall colors. The places that were peak early were slowly fading and the new areas were slowly turning due to the slow-burn. If you don’t know what this slow-burn is that I’m talking about, read about the slow-burn here.

This is why I call the fall foliage rules, “guidelines”. There are NO rigid rules that are true every year.

The basic rules of fall foliage

The basic rules or guidelines are as follows:

• The fall colors flow from North to South
• The fall colors also flow from higher elevations to lower except around ponds and marshy wet areas.
• Marshy ponds that have swamp Maples will also develop very early because the trees are stressed from having their roots in lots of water.
• Frost is good but a hard freeze is not

If this is your first fall foliage rodeo then these are good guidelines to follow. If you’ve been doing this a few years then you know that these guidelines don’t always work out. There are many times when valleys in central Vermont or New Hampshire or Maine or wherever… will get frost overnight and the surrounding areas will not. A light frost is a “trigger” for the fall colors.

Fall Foliage “triggers” or causes of color change

There are several triggers (or basic rules) for the fall colors. Some of these “triggers” like the shortening of the days are fixed and don’t really change.

Other triggers like cool nighttime temperatures depend on geography and the weather for the current year. Some years we stay warm into October, then the fall colors don’t start to really change until the first or even the second week of October in northern New England.

In Stowe Vermont, on Columbus Day (a few years back,) I found near peak or peak all around the area. (check this Columbus Day foliage report). In the picture below at Stowe’s Gentle Giant Carriage Rides, the colors were wonderful but on the same day just down the road in Northfield Vermont, they were still developing.

I told someone today to plan their vacation like there was no fall foliage happening. You can use the dates and guides from here on my site, or over on the Yankee Magazines website. The dates that you get will generally be good guides to go with. But I want you to go a step further and now look for things that you will enjoy doing whether there is any fall color or not.

Why should we assume no fall colors?

I know the fall color is why you are coming, that and the picturesque little New England villages with their postcard scenic roads. But the truth is that Mother Nature can pull the rug out from under us, at any time.

So if you plan for fun activities, harvest festivals, and interesting little towns that have things that interest you, then at the end of your vacation, you’ll get home and have great memories of your New England vacation. (with or without the “peak” fall colors)

Your fall foliage days according to Winnie the Pooh

“You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”

A. A. Milne

You can’t wait for the fall colors to happen to you. Sometimes you have to go looking…  [Jeff’s version]

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.

Winnie the Pooh

Rushing to get through milestones in life is going against the flow of life. There’s no need to hurry to accomplish something, find a partner, or have kids by a certain age. As long as you’re making progress, doing what brings you joy, and living in alignment with what your heart wants, things will come into your life when they’re meant to. [Jeff’s version]

“I don’t feel very much like Pooh today,” said Pooh.
“There there,” said Piglet. “I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.”

Piglet

Sometimes, you’re going to have some off days. Take care of yourself; have some tea and honey. Don’t create unnecessary pressure for merely being human. You’re allowed days when you just need to rest and pick things up again tomorrow. [Jeff’s version]

“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.”

Winnie the Pooh

Have you ever considered how good it feels to plan a trip? The days before you get on the plane, you’re so excited for everything that’s to come, and perhaps that feeling is as good, if not better, than actually being on the trip.

Excitement mixed with anticipation is a strong emotion. We often don’t stop and indulge in this feeling. Next time you find yourself in this state, allow yourself to really enjoy it. [Jeff’s version]

“Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the thing you can’t hear, and not bothering.”

Winnie the Pooh

It’s ok to do nothing. It’s perfectly fine to take a break. In fact, in a culture where we’re used to being told to always “hustle” and go, go, go, we see doing nothing as a detriment to our character. That we’re in fact lazy, or not ambitious if we take a break. [Jeff’s version]

“I’m not lost for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.”

A.A. Milne

Uncertainty in life is inevitable. We can never be sure of the path we’re going down. But not knowing what is exactly going on doesn’t mean you’re wrong, and you can feel secure in the uncertainty. [Jeff’s version]

Jeff Foliage Folger

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

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