New England In The Fall

19 October 2021

Story #1044

R. Linda:

Before I finish the autumn season in New England with Halloween photos, here are some assorted Fall pictures I've taken through the years.

A fall road well-travelled

The tourist will find many old dirt roads in New England. None have lost their charm, but in mud season, that can be another story altogether.

The landscape is filled with old historic homes, no matter what state in New England you visit

Many of the stately homes are open to the public, but driving by a few private ones and seeing the setting of trees, fields, and old cobble walls will fire your colonial mindset to wonder what went on in those houses through the years. 

As the chill sets in, all creatures big and small find places to shelter

In October, turkeys come out of the woods to forage at a chicken coop or barn door, even under bird feeders. Small toads and frogs burrow into the still-soft earth, and the crows and ravens return.

A baby turtle making its way to a pond

I noticed (since we have two ponds on our property) that the baby turtles are born anywhere from mid-September to mid- to late October, like the one above.

Many a lawn will suddenly have a red carpet

The one thing about New England is the profusion of reds and oranges, more so in New Hampshire and Vermont than anywhere in the United States. Each year, both states have an influx of "leaf peepers", people who come specifically for the seasonal tours of the autumn beauty that highlight the late tourist season before the skiers, snowboarders, and ice skaters arrive after Christmas.

Red maple leaves

The sugar maples make the reddest of red leaves. And they grow in abundance in Vermont and New Hampshire. Not to mention, maple syrup is made in sugar houses.

If you are lucky enough to live in New England, your windows will look a lot like this in autumn

Just lovely - if you are a walker or hiker, the above are scenes you will come upon

Late September into early October is the beginning of hunting season.

All the New England states are home to hunters. So, a tip to hikers and horseback riders, Orange, Orange, Orange!

I saw this on the edge of our garden, and though I had a very late lily in bloom

Even the blueberry bushes (seen in the background) take on colour

Grandfather tree 

There are many old trees. Some, like the ancient butternut above, have been around for a very long time. White pines grow massively and are plentiful, especially in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Afternoon sun filtering through the colour

There is an abundance of bittersweet

Bittersweet will twine around trees and eventually kill them, but their bright and colourful berries are much sought after for decorations in the Fall.

It is not unusual for dark storm clouds to appear and then disappear as quickly as they came

Northern New England has a very different climate from the south, especially the sky. One moment, it can be sunny and the next dark (like in the photo above). I will say this makes for some stunning photographs.

A few decorations for Halloween

Maybe because of the witch trials, there aren't many decorations for Halloween, like there are at Christmas, when there is much to see. I have noticed that with the influx of non-natives moving up, decorating for the seasons seems to be on the upswing.

Lighthouse in Boston Harbour

If you come to Boston, I'd suggest a harbour cruise to the islands. The foliage is pretty, and there is much about the islands that will pique your interest. But bundle up; it will be cold on the water.

Long shadows and streaks of light signal that night is not far off

Because New Hampshire and Maine's land mass on the east falls farther out towards the sea than the rest of the eastern seaboard, darkness comes early. Keep that in mind if you are visiting and planning day trips.

More than frost on the pumpkin

It is not unusual to see snow in October in Northern New England. Bring a thermos of something hot,  and dress WARM!

Gabe

Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved