Color early this year, but will it persist?

[taintedkernel]

Wondering if anyone would be able to take an educated guess on this.  The foliage timing seems to be a week earlier, maybe more from what I've heard.  Given the trees are now healthy with the drought gone, is it likely to be a longer season or just an earlier one (a more "normal" duration), provided we avoid any nasty weather of course?  Thanks!

[John]

I'm no foliage expert like Jeff. He follows all of the details that I often ignore. All I can say is that I believe the cooler weather that we have had here in the NEK of VT in August and early September has pushed the color along. Did areas in central and southern New England also experience such low temps? That I can not answer. There is also talk of the earlier color being a long term effect from last years drought. That can't be the case here in the NEK because we were one of the few areas that didn't have drought conditions last year.

As for you question about the season be longer with the leaves hanging on. That isn't very likely. If we don't get any heavy rain or wind afer the leaves turn they tend to hang on longer, but they eventually fall off regardless of weather. Hope this helps.

[Jeff Foliage]

We generally think we know what is happening and that is when Mother Nature throws us a curve ball. We were about a week ahead and now we are about even with past years because the warm weather has slowed down the progression.  As John said the cool temps roll in yhis week and if we get a bit of sun with that the colors become brighter.. but it wont2be overnight, it will take days to get good again. Watch for Johns videos and check my site for updates. Www.jeff-foliage.com

[morph2-7]

That is great news for my VT and NH visit which starts on Sunday, Oct 8. However, forecast shows it will rain (at least in the morning) while I'm there. There goes my sunrise photo opportunity. That's quite disappointing.

[Jeff Foliage]

Just keep watching those weather reports because they were saying all this week was to be raining and now it isn't. So cross your fingers!

That is great news for my VT and NH visit which starts on Sunday, Oct 8. However, forecast shows it will rain (at least in the morning) while I'm there. There goes my sunrise photo opportunity. That's quite disappointing.