A man rides a personal watercraft Monday afternoon across Lake Anasagunticook in Hartford, where leaves are near peak color. The nearly 2-mile long body of water, also known as Canton Lake, also lies partly in that town. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Updated Oct. 13, 2021 — The Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry reports high to peak color change (70% to 100%) throughout most of the state.

As of Wednesday, Maine Forest Rangers in northern Maine have reported past peak conditions, with moderate leaf drop.

Typically, northern Maine (zones six and seven) reaches peak conditions the last week of September into the first week of October. The rest of the states progression of color will start occurring from north to south in mid-October. Coastal Maine typically reaches peak conditions mid-to-late October.

“The entire state of Maine is ablaze with color for this upcoming weekend, but with plenty of green in the oaks along the immediate coast to create an amazing contrast,” said Gale Ross, fall foliage spokesperson.

— The Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry

Updated Oct. 8, 2021 — Peak leaf-peeping conditions have arrived in northern and western Maine, albeit a little later than typical.

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Northern Maine typically reaches peak conditions during the last week of September or the first few days of October. Maine Forest Rangers reported peak conditions and moderate leaf drop in that part of the state on Wednesday.

Most of the state is in the midst of moderate-to-high color change, which means 50 percent to 70 percent of leaves have changed color, the forest rangers said. Coastal Maine usually reaches its peak color season toward the middle or the end of the month.

The upcoming weekend is a long weekend for many people and that makes it “the perfect time to get outdoors to enjoy the varying contrasts of the fall colors, mingled in with the greens in the upper elevations and the forest canopies of Maine,” said Gale Ross, the state’s fall foliage spokesperson.

— The Associated Press

Foliage colors make an appearance Sept. 25 in Turner. Submitted photo

Updated Sept. 29, 2021 — The Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry’s Foliage Report for indicates low to moderate color change (less than 50%) throughout most of the state.

As of Sept. 29, Maine Forest Rangers in northern Maine have reported high color or less than 70% color change, with moderate leaf drop.

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Typically, northern Maine (zones six and seven) reach peak conditions the last week of September into the first week of October. The rest of the state’s progression of color will start occurring from north to south in mid-October. Coastal Maine typically reaches peak conditions mid-to-late October.

“The environment is playing its role in protecting and putting the trees to bed for the long winter ahead. As the days have become shorter and we see the decline in sunlight, Maine’s leaf-bearing trees have begun the process leading up to fall,” said Maine fall foliage spokesperson Gale Ross. “I’m happy to report that Maine is right on track with the color progression this year! The chlorophyll which gives our trees their green color is breaking down, and thus, our autumn colors are revealed.”

Alan Cook uses a leaf blower on Thursday on the driveway of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Skeetfield Road in Oxford. Cook works for Spruce Bay Farm and Landscape and recently serviced some accounts in Farmington, where he said the season is changing rapidly. “The colors are starting to change and the leaves are coming down pretty good,” Cook said. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Updated Sept. 22, 2021 — Maine’s leaf-bearing trees will show off their array of fall colors in the upcoming weeks.

The second 2021 Fall Foliage Report from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry reports low color change — less than 30% — throughout most of the state. As of Wednesday, Maine Forest Rangers in northern Maine report less than 50% color change, with low leaf drop.

Typically, northern Maine (zones six and seven) reach peak conditions the last week of September into the first week of October. The rest of the state’s progression of color will start occurring from north to south in mid-October. Coastal Maine typically reaches peak conditions mid-to-late October.

“With the autumn equinox upon us and the weather becoming more seasonal, the landscape of Maine is developing its subtle hues of the fall colors this week. It truly is the most wonderful time of year to be in Maine, weatherwise and otherwise,” said Maine fall foliage spokesperson Gale Ross.

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Maine’s display of fall foliage colors is beginning

Updated Sept. 15, 2021 — The 2021 Fall Foliage Report from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry reports very little color change throughout most of the state. Forest rangers in northern Maine are reporting a 10% color change, with low leaf drop.

Typically, northern Maine (zones 6 and 7) reach peak conditions the last week of September into the first week of October. The rest of the state’s progression of color will start occurring from north to south in mid-October. Coastal Maine typically reaches peak conditions mid-to-late October.

Foliage Prediction for 2021

Updated Sept. 15, 2021 — “Maine experienced moderate drought this spring but received a sufficient amount of rainfall the month of July, which brought many portions of the state back to near normal rainfall levels. Aaron Bergdahl, Forest Pathologist for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, anticipates an excellent fall foliage season with the favorable changing conditions we have experienced. We are already experiencing shorter warms days and cool nights. This transition sets us up for the seasonal display of colors that we all look forward to,” — Gale Ross, Maine fall foliage spokesperson

Fall colors shine along the Quaker Ridge Road in Leeds in late September 2020. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Information for this report came from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry website MaineFoliage.com.

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