This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
Thank you for all your support over the years!

Fall Colors

September 23rd, 2012

Mostly what’s on my mind right now are the falls colors. I go around gaping, as if I have never seen anything like it before. Perhaps I haven’t, I’m never quite sure. I could see this display every year and not grow tired of it, like seeing the flight of geese, or hearing the bird songs in spring. I remember, and that might reduce the amazement. But I don’t remember the edge–the vividness of the spectacle.

Bernd Heinrich (A Year In The Maine Woods)

On my way up to Maine I noticed hints of the upcoming leaf change and I can’t wait. It’s a beautiful time of year, just what is needed before the colorless winter. When I read the quote above in the book it rang true for me. Each year I’m taken aback by the beauty of fall as if I have never experienced it before. I can’t wait to be amazed!

What’s your favorite fall foliage tree?

15 Comments to “Fall Colors”
  1. kristin @ going country on September 23, 2012 at 6:06 am

    Sugar maple–I’m all about the reds and oranges.

    Welcome to your new home, Susy and Co. Good luck with the settling in.

    Reply to kristin @ going country's comment

  2. Beegirl on September 23, 2012 at 6:56 am

    Congratulations on your safe trip! Wishing you all the best as you settle in to your new home and state. I’m so excited for you!

    Reply to Beegirl's comment

  3. Ann on September 23, 2012 at 7:16 am

    It is the Sweet Gum for sure.

    I am headed to Manchester, NH early in October to see my grandkids. I am hoping I get to see some fall beauty in the area. I mean, besides my beautiful granddaughters and daughter!

    Reply to Ann's comment

  4. Marina C on September 23, 2012 at 7:42 am

    Do we have to chose? Sugar maple, of course, the subtle darkening to a glorious burgundy of the native dogwoods, but the birch woods turning into gold have to be my favorite: mushroom hunting, gold above, and a golden carpet to boot!
    Moving in September was such a good idea: you will be all set indoors when the urge of the garden sets in the spring, and you won’t be stealing precious garden time to do it!
    Pet news, please!

    Reply to Marina C's comment

  5. jennifer fisk on September 23, 2012 at 8:15 am

    I’m partial to Maples and of course Sugar Maples win but on my property, I have to enjoy the Red Maple which really is beautiful when it turns. While the Oaks never get brilliant color, there is something lovely about a big Oak in the late fall especially on a nice day.

    Reply to jennifer fisk's comment

  6. Adelina Anderson on September 23, 2012 at 8:41 am

    Never liked looking at leaves until I moved to NH. My backyard is full of trees just starting to turn. I am a total sucker for the birch trees and maple trees. Which reminds me that I need to go out and mark the maple trees for sugaring.

    Reply to Adelina Anderson's comment

  7. Racel on September 23, 2012 at 8:59 am

    We are fortunate enough to have a huge Sugar Maple in our front yard. The gold, red, orange leaves are magnificent and provide an abundance of leaves for the kids to pile and jump in.

    Reply to Racel's comment

  8. Nebraska Dave on September 23, 2012 at 9:47 am

    Susy, here in Nebraska we may lose out on the color this year. Because of the long hot dry summer, the leaves are just falling off the trees without turning into fall color. The year that had no fall color is upon us. What a bummer.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  9. Caroline on September 23, 2012 at 9:57 am

    There’s a bright yellow ginko tree in the town where I live, and I make sure that all my autumn walks pass by it. It’s the most vibrant, pure yellow I’ve ever seen.

    Reply to Caroline's comment

  10. Andrea G in Morgan Hill CA on September 23, 2012 at 11:23 am

    I agree with Caroline. The gingko leaves turn yellow on the tree and then almost all of them fall off at once. There are streets in a nearby town where the street trees are gingkos – what a lovely yellow carpet!

    Reply to Andrea G in Morgan Hill CA's comment

  11. Joan on September 23, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    In the east, the brilliant red of sumac is my absolute favorite. Sugar maples and red maples are also beautiful.

    Out west, entire hillsides covered with the yellows of aspen are one of the prettiest sights I’ve ever seen!

    Reply to Joan's comment

  12. Dave L on September 23, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    Tamaracks. Our view from the garden is overlooking a valley looking toward Morgan Forest and when all the deciduous trees have lost their leaves the several large stand of tamaracks are still there with the vivid, almost school bus yellow color that says winter is just a heart beat away.

    Reply to Dave L's comment

  13. Michelle Beissel on September 24, 2012 at 5:42 am

    Though I love tending my intensive potager in southwest France, as a native New Yorker, I miss the vibrant autumnal display of rich golds, purples, and oranges. For me, it never was one species in particular I loved, but the whole shebang of it–sometimes riotous and other times, more subdued, always visually pleasing and emotionally satisfying.

    Bonne chance with your new place!

    Reply to Michelle Beissel's comment

  14. KimH on September 24, 2012 at 10:00 am

    I think our colors here are going to be less brilliant this year as well, Dave, due to the drought, though we werent affected to the extent of other areas of the country.

    I love the bright reds of the red maple. The sugar maple is lovely too.. Actually I love them all

    Reply to KimH's comment

  15. Victoria on September 25, 2012 at 7:44 pm

    Welcome to Maine! Midcoast Maine is an incredible place to live with a rich and wonderful gardener/ farmer community. I m looking forward to your future posts from my neck of the woods.

    Reply to Victoria's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

Admin
Read previous post:
Boxes, Boxes, Everywhere

We found this note on the table of the new Maine house: There are boxes everywhere, stacked to the ceiling...

Close