Date: Fri 20-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

foliage-Don-Smith-fall-tourism

Full Text:

Foliage: The Big Show's Coming!

This fall's leaf-peeping season in Connecticut promises to be one of the best

in years, according to Don Smith, Connecticut state forester.

Mr Smith says the summer's frequent - some would say too frequent - rainstorms

will make for a wonderful color show.

"The 1996 foliage season in Connecticut should be an excellent one," Mr Smith

said. "There's been plenty of moisture and the temperature has been good for

growing."

Mr Smith, a Newtown native who now lives in Meriden, said the pattern of heavy

precipitation and cooler temperatures, which has been the norm in the

northeastern United States for the past year, will bring a beautiful show of

color throughout Connecticut next month, probably peaking about October 12 in

the northern part of the state and around October 15 in the Newtown area.

"The dampness has encouraged some diseases like fungus in a few areas, but

this should have a minor impact," he said. "The only real risk is that as the

leaves turn and get ready to drop, they are literally hanging by a thread. A

big windstorm and heavy rain could bring them down."

The color show has started in northern Connecticut but only about five percent

of the leaves has turned in the Newtown area, he said. Inns, antique shops and

restaurants already are gearing up for what will probably be the most intense

few weeks of visitor acitivity during the year. Bed and breakfast

establishments and inns throughout the Litchfield Hills and Berkshires already

are solidly booked through mid-October.

Foliage Regions Are Unique

Only a few regions of the world have seasonal displays of color like

Connecticut, according to Mr Smith. The eastern United States and southeast

Canada have large areas of deciduous forests, ample rainfall and favorable

weather conditions for vivid fall colors. If you really want to travel,

eastern Asia, southwestern Europe and the mountains of the western United

States also provide viewing opportunities for bright fall colors.

Just when northern New England's fall foliage is winding down, Connecticut's

trees continue their big burst of color. Connecticut's foliage season starts

in late September and runs through the first three weeks of October, the

result of its southern New England location and the influence of warmer,

coastal air.

Columbus Day weekend is a good "ballpark" guage for the peak around most of

the state. Then foliage is at its very best, primarily yellows and reds with

accents of bronze, orange and purple.

The State of Connecticut offers daily updates on fall foliage via its

1-800-CT-BOUND (1-800-282-6863, ext 88) toll-free tourism hotline which begins

annually in late September. Color peaks on various days around the state -

it's different, for example, along the coastline and in the Litchfield Hills -

and summer humidity and temperatures create annual fluctuations in Mother

Nature's schedule.

Although it is too early for foliage information, the hotline number can be

used now to book accommodations for out-of-state visitors. Callers also can

request a complimentary Fall/Winter Travel Kit, which includes an

accommodations directory, a "Spectacular Fall Surprises" fact sheet, scenic

routes state map and other information.

Free Brochures Available

Available through 1-800-CT-BOUND, Ext 88, is the brochures, "Where to Pick

Your Own Fruits and Vegetables," which lists more than 50 farms where you can

try your hand at harvesting. Apple picking is at its peak during goliage

season (Blue Jay Orchard in Bethel is the closest location) and pumpkin season

follows on its heels (try Mitchell Farm in Southbury). The Connecticut

Department of Agriculture has a free apple-picking guide; call (860) 566-4845.

The Litchfield Hills Travel Council offers a 20-page illustrated brochure of

eight driving loops, "Auto Tours," as well as a brochure called "Touring" that

offers intineraries for hikers, bikers and boaters as well as driver. Both are

available from the council at Box 968, Litchfield 06759 or by calling (860)

567-4506.

"Fall Foliage Driving Tours" includes three foliage driving loops in the

Hartford area, the Farmington Valley and east of the Connecticut River. The

brochure is available from the Greater Hartford Tourism District, 234 Murphy

Road, Hartford 06114, or by calling 1-800-793-4480.

"A Fall Foliage Driving Tour of North Central Connecticut" is available from

the tourism district of the same name. Contact North Central Tourism Bureau,

111 Hazard Avenue, Enfield 06082 or call 1-800-248-8283.

Another brochure, "Fall Foliage Driving Tours," with driving loops in the

Windsor area as well as in New Britain and Waterbury, is available from

Central Connecticut Tourism District, One Grove Street, No 310, New Britain

06053, (860) 225-3901 or the Waterbury Region CVB, 21 Church Street, Waterbury

06702, (203) 597-9527.

Foliage Season Events

Every Columbus Day weekend, the state's northeast tourism district, known as

the Quiet Corner, hosts one of the state's premier foliage celebrations, the

Walking Weekend. This year's dates are October 12-14.

More than 50 guided itineraries for every age, interest and fitness level

range from challenging treks to easy nature hikes to interpretive historic

walks and night walks, covering 25 towns. A free brochure with a detailed

schedule, plus information on accommodations, dining, bike routes and

antiquing is available from the Northeast Corner Vistors District, PO Box 598,

Putnam 06260, or by calling (860) 928-1228.

September 21-20 is the annual Bristol Mum Festival, celebrating its 35th year

(860-584-4718); amd the old-time, country-style Durham Fair (September 27-29)

celebrating its 77th year, with an average attendance of 275,000

(860-349-9495).

October (5-6, 10-13) is the annual Southington Apple Harvest Festival,

entering its 28th year, with an average attendance of over 300,000

(203-628-8036). The famous chowderfest at Mystic Seaport, a festival of soups

served from bubbling cauldrons, celebrates its 16th season on October 12-14

(860-572-5315).

There's a Pumpkin Festival planned at the New Fairfield Historical Society on

Brush Hill Road for October 5 and Motorcyclists' Super Sunday at Marcus Dairy

in Danbury on October 13.

View By Color

Each species of tree can be identified by its fall colors. In Connecticut some

species are in greater abundance than others. Here's a key to identifying

major species:

Red only: red oak, white oak. Yellow only: quaking aspen, birch, hickory,

Norway maple, tulip tree. Red or yellow: cherry, red maple. Brown or yellow:

silver maple. Bronze: beech. Bronze or red: sugar maple, scarlet oak. Purple

or red: dogwood. Purple, red or yellow: ash. Purple, red, yellow or orange:

sassafras and sumac.

Scenic Roads

The Connecticut Department of Transportation has designated portions of

certain routes as official scenic roads. Here is a sample of some that are

especially suited for foliage viewing:

Kent - Route 7 north from the New Milford town line to the Cornwall town line,

10.5 miles.

Sharon - Route 4 west from the Route 7 intersection to Old Sharon Road, 3.9

miles; Route 7 north from the Cornwall Bridge crossing on the Housatonic River

to the covered bridge at Route 128, 4.29 miles; and Route 41 north from the

New York State border to Sharon/Salisbury town line, 8.4 miles.

Redding - Route 53 north from the Weston town line to the junction of Route

107, 2 miles.

Greenwich-Stratford - The Merritt Parkway (Route 15) its entire length from

the New York state line to the Housatonic River bridge in Stratford.

New Hartford - Route 202 west from the Canton/New Hartford townline to the

Bakersville Methodist Church, 5.1 miles.

Top Viewing Spots

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Parks and

Forests, has selected eight state parks and forests with superb fall foliage

as well as viewing towers or lookouts.

Haystack Mountain State Park, West Norfolk. Stone tower at end of a short

trail walk of 15 minutes provides a 360-degree panorama of the countryside.

Macedonia Brook State Park, Warren. Cobble Mountain Trail provides views from

the Harlem Valley into the Taconic and Catskill Mountains.

Mohawk State Forest, Cornwall. Lookout Tower at the end of Mohawk Mountain

road provides scenic vistas of the Catskill, Taconic and Berkshire ranges.

Hikers can pick up the blue-blazed Mattatuck or Mohawk Trails which cross the

site.

Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown. Mt Misery Overlook.

Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted. The yellow-blazed Jessie Gerard Trailhead

leads to two lookouts.

Shenipsit State Forest, Somers. Observation tower on Soap Stone Mountain Road.

The blue-blazed Shenipsit Trail runs by the tower.

Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden. Stone tower provides a 360-degree panorama

of Long Island and Hartford.

Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury. Heublein Tower provides view of

Farmington River Valley.

Some of the state's downhill ski areas, such as Mohawk Mountain, operate their

lifts during fall foilage season to give visitors spectacular views from the

air.