Massachusetts Fall Foliage is Peaking

Massachusetts fall foliage is really splendid, and this year is certainly no exception. In general, Massachusetts gets its best fall color, going from north to south, starting in mid-to-late September and running through mid-October, according to NewEngland,com, so the timing is perfect right now. Embrace your inner leaf peeper and check out some amazing views. In the spirit of the crips, cool season, here are some places in Georgia to see fall colors right now, according to experts.

Have you ever wondered why leaves change different ways depending on where you live? According to the Smithsonian, "How much and how fast leaves transform varies by location on the globe. The best colors are produced when the weather is dry, sunny and cool." They add that areas are cloudy, damp or warm won't have as much vibrant color changing. The U.S. Forest Service adds that, "As night length increases in the autumn, chlorophyll production slows down and then stops and eventually all the chlorophyll is destroyed." Also, "The timing of color changes and the onset of falling leaves is primarily regulated by the calendar as nights become longer."

As winter approaches, they note that, "Trees start building a protective seal between leaves and their branches as the weather turns" and these trees "take in as many nutrients as possible from the leaves, but leaves wouldn’t survive the winter and would make trees vulnerable to damage if they remained." The leaves fall when they're cut off from fluid in the branches. It's really fascinating how nature works, isn't it?

It's not too late to plan out a fall foliage viewing trip across the state. According to NewEngland,com, some of the best regions and times in Massachusetts to see vibrant fall color are "the Upper Pioneer Valley during middle peak (end of September to mid-October) and Cape Ann, including the popular tourist town of Rockport, during late peak (mid-October to early November)," so that leaves plenty of time to get your leaf peeping on. Visit Massachusetts adds that one of the best places to see fall colors in Massachusetts are at the various state parks the region offers. "Around Mount Greylock in particular is always a popular destination to see some iconic views," they note. "The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has compiled a list of state parks across the state where you can see awesome fall colors."