Vermont ready for a "spectacular" 2011 foliage

Brrrrrrrr, it was cold last night!

Within a matter of weeks, the Green Mountain State will be a tapestry of reds, oranges, yellows, and gold. Meteorologists are predicting the upcoming foliage season to be a "spectacular" one. Here is an interesting run-down on what they are predicting.

“From a weather perspective, we had good conditions to produce great color,” said Bill Kirk, chief executive of Weather Trends International forecasting service. “We had a warm, wet spring and then seasonal temperatures in May and June. Last year we had a drought and extensive heat. That makes everything fall prematurely. We didn’t have that this year — July through September was warm, but wet, which is a positive to trees being healthy.”
Vermont dodged a bullet as far as foliage conditions go. While Irene did cause damage, it primarily knocked down evergreen trees. Deciduous trees, like the maple, have much larger root systems. Branches came down, but not entire trees.

“All of that is adding up to a spectacular foliage season,” Kirk said. “The best in four years.”
The next trick is predicting when peak season will be. There is no set date, since there are so many elements that go into creating the natural fireworks display. Still, plenty are keen to make a guess.

“As you start to run into the early weeks of October, all depending on the weather, it could really be peak,” Vermont Deputy Commissioner of Tourism Steve Cook said. “It depends on when we get the first cold snap. Once we get that cold snap, it starts to inspire leaves to change from green to gold. Really in the first two weeks in October you can expect to see peak fall foliage in parts of the state.”

Call today to book your stay with us and enjoy this foliage season with us at the Snapdragon Inn!