Have you seen the stories? “Great foliage drives” “Where to view fall colors” “See fall’s colors in places you wouldn’t think” In New England, tourists coming to see the brilliant reds, yellows, oranges and browns on the trees are called ‘Leaf Peepers.’ This is my first fall living in New England and like the spring bloom, the fall colors are bold and in your face and spectacular. No wonder so many people visit this time of year.
Standing on my back porch, a view over my neighbor’s house brings pause and appreciation of what the big deal is. 
Driving Mirielle to school, I end up on the road with the brilliant orange tree. 
Birch trees with their white bark are one of the first to lose their leaves this year. The fragile, sparsely clothed branches remind me of characters in Chekhov’s plays. (Maybe a bit esoteric reference, but I love birch trees and I love Checkhov’s plays and I have always imagined the Russian farms covered with birch forests.) 
Speaking of Chekhov, the cherry tree out my office window is fading from green to red-yellow.
Napa Valley in November
In California, I often heard east coast immigrants (which I was) missed the seasons. I always saw seasons. I never missed them: green and brown, wet and dry, a slow ‘spring’ which lasted from late January through the rains, and a subtle fall that was not so subtle in the vineyards or even the median of our street. Snow was a season I definitely did not miss and it was only three hours away if I wanted to ski.
Fall means more figs in California
This weekend we are headed up to Vermont to see the ‘peak’ foliage, pick apples, taste cheese, meet alpaca and whatever else strikes our fancy. I am going to be a ‘Leaf Peeper’ but there has got to be a better name. Foliage Finder? Colors Crusader? Autumn Audubon-ist? Tree Tourist? Other suggestions?
I am participating in DeliciousBaby’s super cool Photo Fridays, where everyone is invited to link to a travel photo. Please click here to see more of this week’s photos & stories.
Oh.. The color is so amazing especially that orange tree. We are planning for a quick trip up the mountain to be a leaf peeper too.
.-= Amy @ The Q Family´s last blog ..Foodie Heaven in Asheville =-.
Love the everyday pictures that capture how gorgeous the leaves are. Just going down the road right now is beautiful. Enjoy Vermont!
I’m rubbing my magic lamp so I can get transported inside one of these pictures.
.-= Cate´s last blog ..Photo Friday – World Food Day =-.
I don’t like the term “leaf peeper.” Enjoying fall is so much more than that–crunching in the leaves, enjoying the sun on a cool fall day, watching the leaves fall onto a deserted road. It’s my favorite time of year.
.-= Linda´s last blog ..Mystery Photo Friday: Cotton Ball Field? =-.
I love the fall, too. Michigan has some pretty nice colors, especially in the northern part of the state.
Have fun with the alpacas! We went to a llama and alpaca festival when we were in Vermont 7 years ago…and a llama “trek”. I’d love to get back up your way one of these days…
.-= Dominique´s last blog ..Photo Friday: Northern Farm Market in Romeo, Michigan =-.
So gorgeous. I have always wanted to visit that part of the world in the fall. And I am with you on “leaf peeper”…sounds so dirty and voyeuristic! Happy Autumn!
I truly miss fall, I haven’t been back to the states for fall in over 5 years and Central America seems to have 2 seasons hot and rain:)
Great photos.
Gorgeous! I’d love to do a tour of the northeast or midwest during this season. I really miss the fall colors living in California.
.-= Glennia/ The Silent I´s last blog ..Easter Island: The Birdmen of Orongo =-.
After looking at your pix,, I almost love living on the East coast. Then I get cold.
New England Seasons: Winter | Backpack to Buggy // Feb 26, 2010 at 9:49 am
[...] just changed. In October I updated you on the bold colors of the New England autumn attracting Leaf Peepers from around the world. Here are some of those same views in the middle of a winter [...]