Autumn glory

Maples lead the way as the days grow shorter. Trees stop production of green chlorophyll and as it fades, the yellows, reds and oranges that have been there all spring and summer appear.

All photos © by the author. All rights reserved. It is illegal to use them without permission. 

There is no season in New England that is not beautiful. Yet, when one thinks of when it is at its most alluring, it has to be autumn. Whether one has been in New England or not, the reputation of the dazzling display of red, yellow, orange and purple on the oaks, maples, birches, ashes, butternuts and even the muted yellows on the pines are well known iconic images of America's northeast, seen in innumerable posters, calendars, greeting cards and post card set in the mountains and fishing villages along the craggy Atlantic coast.

Typical granite walls and fall colors of New England

For those who have visited during autumn, and especially for those who live in New England, the march of colors beginning in mid-September and fading by late October is unforgettably spectacular. It is a bittersweet time, as the colors are amazingly beautiful, but herald the nearing bitterly cold winter.

Typical autumn scene along U.S. Highway 1 in Maine

For those of you who have not been to New England in autumn, this post is a tour of some of the glorious colors that can be seen. For those who live, or have lived in New England, this is a celebration of the beautiful place you are from, seen through my camera lens during October in Maine.

As the days shorten, the air is cooler and as it passes over the still relatively warmer (but still very cold) waters of the Gulf of Maine, a fog known as "sea smoke" forms, producing an ethereal quality.

Oranges and reds appear, enhancing nature's palette. 

Shrubs also join the colorful display. Here, bittersweet, which has been in plain sight all summer, stands out in bright yellow. The root and bark is used in herbal medicines, but the berries are poisonous.

A boat leaves for open water in the bright early morning Maine sun.

The large gray pine trunks add contrast to the beautiful maples and ferns.

Ferns also lose chlorophyll and add to the autumn colors for a short while before withering away.

Pine trees also drop needles (their type of leaves) in autumn, but do not shed them all.

All over Maine one can find quiet lanes to wander and enjoy the changing colors.

Clam digging with a lovely autumn backdrop

A beautiful fall carpet.

One of the most stunning effects is bright yellow leaves and
wet, black bark.

Eventually, long sections of woods burst forth in continuous colors, giving a gorgeous scene for passersby to enjoy.

Fog mutes the colors, lending a ghostly cover to a cemetery

What New England autumn post would be complete without a picturesque seaside village nestled in brilliant foliage? This beautiful scene is of Blue Hill, Maine.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of Maine in Autumn, and if not a New Englander, come see autumn. It is an amazing experience you will not forget.