Well, it’s about THAT time, The term “Peak” is thrown about when folks are asking where to find IT and more often it’s used in the past tense of “where did you find IT” or “that was one of the best peak seasons we’ve seen in a while”. I went looking around my yard Saturday and it was a bright sunny afternoon. The oaks are a little early in both the dropping of their leaves and showing their bright colors.

Normally we think of Birch, Maples, Ash, or any of two dozen+ other varieties of deciduous trees that turn very bright colors in autumn. The last thing on my list is to go looking for oaks.

Oaks have to my mind, deeper colors. The leaves are heavier or dense and they don’t let as much light through as a maple leaf will. But on a sunny afternoon, they will let the sun show through, but I also love to see the light reflected back at me. Deep red and orange make me very happy to record and look back on during the cold winter days ahead.

This is not to say that the other leaves will not still be in evidence throughout New England. On this particular year in 2020, I was seeing the images roll in from around New England of the reports of snowliage from northern New Hampshire and Vermont.

Moore State Park with an Old Sawmill in Paxton MA

Sunday (10/18/20) We drove out I-90 to Paxton Massachusetts and Moore State Park. We parked in a full parking lot after someone left as we were deciding what to do. [problem solved]

We were looking to find the Old Sawmill (refurbished) and it was an easy walk on a paved road among the Rhododendrons and Azaleas. If you come back in late April, this short walk should be a feast for the eyes as well. But on this day, there were lots of little colorful views to be had along the trail.

We took the Azalea Path down and around and basically just followed the signs. There were all sorts of photographers (portrait and wedding) doing shoots down there and if you are patient, they will finish their scene, and you can get your images of the mill with them not in it.

The best few are from downstream and while the “stream” was only a trickle, it was still very nice. There are a few unsanctioned “paths” to get down to the water’s edge, and you just need to watch your footing. I would give this one a Level of Difficulty of 3 out of 5 depending on your age and fitness. I’m 61, not in great shape, and more foolhardy than most… 🙂

Old Stone Church in West Boylston

I’ve shot the Old Stone Church before but I saw someone posted a shot from earlier that week and since we were in the area, I decided that we would take a drive-by.

I had another photographer standing on the other side of a pine tree from me, but as most photographers do, we chatted about what we had seen this day. I told him about sharing some images with the New England Fall Foliage Group and he checked his phone saying he was on a lot of groups. He asked, are you, Jeff? I said yes. He said “Holy S**t, you’re Jeff Foliage? and I said Yup… 🍁 You never know where Jeff Foliage will pop up… 🤔 

Bancroft Castle in Groton MA

If you ever wonder, does Jeff practice what he preaches, and by preach, I mean every single season you will hear me say. DON’T plan to go from tree to tree. As much as I enjoy the fall colors… (Ok, I’m a bit obsessed) But I always tell you to pick 3-5 things to do in a day, and while they can be based on foliage activities, they should always be things you will enjoy. (Finding covered bridges, hiking, kayaking, Revolutionary or Civil War history, something…)

Today’s visits were set up by the research that Lisa did. All year long she will see things of interest and she saves them to a Google Drive Doc. So yesterday after we had finished her old sawmill choice and my Old Stone Church, we had lunch and we weren’t sure where to go. She checked her list and saw the Bancroft Castle listed and it wasn’t too far, so we went and found…

A Two Church View

Bancroft Castle is one of the many castles that Lisa likes to find and explore. We parked at the Gibbet Grill (it’s allowed) as long as you park at the back of their lot. You proceed towards the hill and head to the right and at the corner of the lot, you follow the path up the hill. 🍁

When you finally get to the top of the hill… And it is a really good walk to the top of this hill, just so you know. Take your time and a couple of breaks on the way up and you’ll be ok. (I’m still here, so you should make it also…) It is well worth the shortness of breath.

The castle is a great relic, but it’s the views from up here of the town below that was jaw-dropping. There are 3 churches down below, but I think the third is hidden by the trees on the slope. You will see a metal gate below the castle, and beyond that is the First Parish Church of Groton.

Yes, I did shoot it without the gate but I wanted you to have a reference. I think a morning shot might be better but this church shot can be sacrificed in favor of the next one. You see this shot is at the level of the castle behind me. If you continue left of the castle, walking a little further up the hill, you will be rewarded with the second church view.

As you can see the Union Congregational Church is further away from the other church, and from this angle, the light that falls on the church is much better at least at this time in the afternoon (3:28PM). I would say it would be great till sunset.

*Note, Also be sure you park at the back of the Gibbet Grill Restaurant parking lot which is down below the castle. They do not mind if you park there. If you park on the street, you will get a ticket. (we saw about 5 tickets being given)

That’s as far as we will go for today….. but one last note……

You might be wondering where to go for inspiration, I look at all of the photographers around me for inspiration. Then we have people like Photographer Tom Gaitley. He is also a Master Dive instructor and when he goes for the fall colors, he doesn’t always stay dry…

Yes, the cranberries are above him and he was swimming under the harvest. This is an example of being creative with your photography. Most of us can’t get in the water with our cameras, but you can get inspired… Where will you find your fall foliage inspiration today?

Have a wonderful fall foliage day

Jeff Foliage Folger

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

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