Fall in Vermont is always beautiful, the trees are full of colors; reds, oranges, and yellows. But this year you may have noticed that the colors seemed less vibrant than past years and didn't seem to last as long. This past summer’s unusually dry weather meant less resin for the trees, causing the leaves to change earlier and fade faster than in past years.
To better help us understand the difference in color this fall, we interviewed Amy Newbold, a biology teacher at BBA. She explained that trees need a balance of moisture, sunlight, and temperature to produce their brightest colors. “When there’s enough rain in the summer, trees are healthier and can hold onto their leaves longer,” she said. “Cool nights and sunny days help bring out the reds and purples through pigments called anthocyanins, which form when sugars get trapped in the leaves.”
Without these conditions, especially when it's dry or warm for too long, the colors can look duller and disappear more quickly.
Even so, Vermont still attracted plenty of visitors hoping to see the famous fall foliage. Evan Miksis interviewed several tourists in Manchester, and found that while many noticed a difference, they still thought the scenery was stunning. Ron and Lisa, visiting from Maryland, said they thought the colors were “a little muted, lots of yellows, not as many reds, but still beautiful.” Lisa added that she's noticed the timing of peak foliage seems to have shifted earlier in October, possibly because of changing weather patterns.
Rachel, visiting from Oklahoma, said, "It's been pretty and picturesque, different from back home. Even if it's not as bright as usual, it's still gorgeous to see.”
Rich Weber from Massachusetts, who's been coming to Vermont for years, agreed that the colors seemed past their peak. “It’s been a little less spectacular than what we’ve seen before,” he said, “but Vermont in the fall is always worth the trip.”
Even if the colors didn’t linger as long this year, Vermont's fall still lived up to its reputation. The shades might have been softer, but the views and people that came to see them proved that even a less colorful Vermont is still something special to see.