But there are pockets of eastern Massachusetts bucking that trend, where the colors appeared sooner than in parts of central New Hampshire. Why was that?
I took this leaf investigation to Steven Roberge, a professor of natural resources at the University of New Hampshire and a state specialist in forestry for the university’s Extension program.
Roberge said that while leaf season typically starts north and moves south, the progression of how colors change in different places is actually quite nuanced.
“There’s a mosaic of forest types that are there. The trees within those forest types all react differently to what’s going on,” he said. “And then, on top of that, across the region, there’s a mosaic of weather patterns that the forest has experienced.”
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He said the forests in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire are often dominated by birch and oak trees, while further north, the White Mountains are home to more hardwood species.
Those trees have their own timelines to start shutting down for the winter when their colors start coming out, according to Roberge. He said the black birch on his property is already showing a lot of yellow leaves, while the red oak is just as green as it was in July.
Weather is another factor that can influence the timing of the colors, including droughts and how much moisture is in the soil.
Maples, oaks, and northern hardwoods need cool overnight temperatures to start developing vibrant foliage, Roberge said. He expects peak foliage will begin in New Hampshire in another week or two.
One thing remains the same each year: The changing colors are triggered by the reduction of sunlight as the days grow shorter. Trees stop producing chlorophyll, and the green pigment gives way to other colors.
Roberge’s advice on leaf peeping is to not obsess over one “peak” day, but to take advantage of the entire season.
“If you feel like you’ve missed out in Massachusetts, you can head north, head south, and find other things out there,” he said.
The state puts out a “Foliage Report” that can help inform your quest.
This story first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you’d like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.
Amanda Gokee can be reached at amanda.gokee@globe.com. Follow her @amanda_gokee.
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Publish date : 2024-09-26 04:58:00
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