Vermont Weathervane -- Trees of Autumn

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CELEBRATE THE SEASON:
Thoughts of Vermont
by Sinclair Lewis

The Apple Wagon
by Wayne Kelly

Cider Ha'd and Sweet
by Daryle Thomas

The Trees of Autumn
In Pursuit of Excellence

IN THE FARMHOUSE KITCHEN:
Home From the Orchard
Apple and Pumpkin Recipes

VERMONT VERSES
October in Vermont

GARDENING:
October Gardening Tips
by Leonard Perry

VERMONT BY HAND
Gay Ellis, Finds Success With Bold Garments
by Kirt Zimmer

INTO THE OUTDOORS:
Going South for the Winter

VERMONT WEATHERVANE BOOK NEWS:
The Perfect Pumpkin
Pumpkins are Perfect for a Plethora of Purposes
The Candlemaker's Companion
Guide to Candlemaking

GET OUT AND ABOUT:
Vermont Country Calendar
Statewide Calendar of Events

EXPLORE OUR OTHER SEASONS:
FALL
WINTER
SPRING
SUMMER

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The Trees of Autumn
In Pursuit of Excellence:
Stunning Crimson Reds, Brilliant Yellows, Breathtaking Golds

Vermont's autumn color show is dazzling, thanks to the state's great variety of trees and the special climate factors at work here.

Although the sugar maple receives the most publicity, in fact the Vermont woods host countless native broadleaf tree species, each with its own special autumnal hues. In addition, villages, farmhouses, and even old cellar holes host an assortment of exotic species planted over the years for the beauty they add to the open landscape. It's the intensity and combination of colors which create the breath-catching scenery people travel across the world to witness.

A Brief Guide to Vermont's Trees of Autumn

Ash: The ash is often the first tree to shed its leaves in the autumn. Green and black ashes display yellow leaves, while the white ash contributes some of the few purple tints seen in the fall woods.

Aspen: This is one of the last trees to change color, splashing bursts of dark yellow throughout the by then dwindling colors of surrounding trees.

Beech: Popular for its tasty beechnuts and one of the most common hardwoods, the beech's contributions to fall color are yellows and reddish-browns which remain on the tree well into late autumn.

Birch: Slender white birches look rather graceful in the fall woods, topped by strong yellow and pale red leaves. Yellow birches are also common, but harder to distinguish since their trunk coloration is not the well-known white.

Chestnut: Chestnut trees are very slow growing and somewhat disease susceptible, and unfortunately are becoming less and less common. The tree produces spiked seedballs in autumn which harbor prized nuts. The leaves tend to show russet and dark yellow.

Poplar: Poplar, which is common at the edges of fields, often displays one of the most brilliant yellows of the season.

Red (or swamp) maple: This species of maple is usually the harbinger of autumn's color show, turning very early and displaying unmistakable and stunning flaming crimson foliage. The crimson contributed by these trees is sometimes considered one of the extra-special ingredients that make Vermont's foliage display unique.

Sugar maple: The more popular and common sister of the red maple, Vermont's hillsides sport extensive patches of "sugarbush," forested areas where sugar maples are maintained so they can be tapped for maple syrup in the early spring. Its fall foliage is multi-colored, with a mix of yellows and red, but not as brilliant as the red maple.

Oak: Late in showing its colors, they are muted compared to other trees, ranging from soft browns to reddish-orange hues.

Tamarack: Perhaps the most surprising tree of autumn. The fact that this pine species, unlike any other pine, actually does turn colors and drop its needles in the fall has resulted in cases in which they have been considered "dead pines" and chopped down! The tree is a real standout in autumn, as the needles do turn a bright yellow to yellow-orange, quite distinctive among the other unchangingly-green pines.

Willow: Often found near farmhouses and in low-lying wet areas, willows change to pale yellow and then brown quickly and briefly before dropping their many small slender leaves.