Autumn in Vermont is legendary, and for good reason! We live for this time of year, when the many trees of Sky Meadow are awash in glorious color. Vermont fall foliage is prime in our area around late September to early October. Of course, every year is a bit different so we never know exactly when the peak will come.

Ever been curious about the biological process that causes leaves to change color? According to the US Forest Service, it all begins when the shorter days trigger the trees to slow down their production of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the green pigment in leaves that allows for the process of photosynthesis to occur. As the trees stop producing it, the green color fades away, allowing other pigments in the leaves — carotenoids and anthocyanins — to become unmasked. Carotenoids are found in things like daffodils and carrots and give off yellow and orange shades. Anthocyanins are abundant in plants including blueberries, cranberries and plums, and give off those rich red and purple hues.

Each type of tree has its own mix of these pigments, which creates the varied display of color we enjoy from our Vermont fall foliage. Weather conditions can affect fall foliage as well, but the surest indicator of fall leaf changes is shorter days as we near the Winter Solstice. (Science doesn’t quite understand every nuance of this process, but that’s the general way it works.) And now that we’ve learned something new for today, we wanted to share some photos of this fall’s colors!

Ready to book your Vermont fall foliage retreat or getaway for 2023? Reach out to us and let us know! Whatever season you choose, we’d love the opportunity to host you soon.