First 2019 Maine Fall Foliage Report
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry released their 1st Fall Foliage Report for 2019 on Wednesday, September 11th. The State will release Foliage Reports every Wednesday afternoon through October 16th
Forest Rangers are reporting spotty color change in the forest. Northern Maine is seeing less than 5 percent color change with very low, less than 5 percent, leaf drop.
"Forest Rangers at the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, have been reporting their observations throughout the state since 1959. Back then the rangers would radio in their on-the-ground observations to the department headquarters, which in turn would be filtered out to local radio stations. We've come a long way since then and have gone global with our reporting," according to Gale Ross, Maine's fall foliage spokesperson.
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 states progression of color will start occurring from north to south in mid-October. Coastal Maine typically reaches peak conditions mid-to-late October.
Aaron Bergdahl, Forest Pathologist within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, stated, "While in some parts of Maine people may notice color change developing a bit earlier than usual due to droughty summer conditions, peak color should develop normally from north to south with a full palette of vibrant colors reflecting our diverse and overall healthy forests. All things considered, I believe 2019 will be an exceptional fall foliage season."