Weekly Maine Foliage Report (September 28, 2011)

The weekly Maine Foliage Report (September 28, 2011) has been sent out by the Maine Department of Conservation.  It can be read in its entirety below.
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September 28, 2011 | Maine Foliage Report
Maine Department of Conservation
www.MaineFoliage.com

Northern Half of Maine Now Has Moderate to High Foliage Color
AUGUSTA, Maine ­ Fall foliage color is now halfway toward peak from Moosehead Lake to Aroostook County, according to the third 2011 fall foliage report from the Maine Department of Conservation (MDOC).

Currently, Maine Forest Service and state park rangers are observing high leaf color, or 50 to 70 percent toward peak, along with very low leaf drop in northern tracking zones (Zones 7, 6, 5 northern, and 4 northern) covering Fort Kent, Presque Isle, Houlton, Millinocket, Greenville and Jackman.

Moderate color, or 30 to 50 percent toward peak, has reached the southern sections of Zones 5 and 4, and the northern section of Zone 3. These regions contain Rangeley, Bethel, Bangor, Dover-Foxcroft, Lincoln and Calais. Leaf drop in these areas is very low.

All coastal regions (Zones 1 and 2) and the Sebago Lake region, Androscoggin County and Kennebec County (southern Zone 3) now have low foliage color, or 10 to 30 percent toward peak, and very low leaf drop according the report.

³Although complete trees in bright reds, oranges and yellows are scarce, a significant percentage of hardwoods are showing some form of transition,"said Rick Henion, a Maine Forest Service Ranger in the downeast town of Stueben. "Both birches and poplars are showing a fair amount of understory yellowing, and maples and ashes are transitioning to more golden hues in upper and exposed branches."

Maine¹s fall foliage conditions will be updated each Wednesday through at least Oct. 19 on this website. Maine foliage fans can also share photos and favorite viewing spots at the Maine Fall Foliage page on Facebook, or follow foliage news on Twitter using the "mainefoliage" hashtag.

The first MDOC ranger-guided foliage tour happens this Saturday at Peaks-Kenny State Park in Dover-Foxcroft. Mount Blue State Park and the Kennebec Highlands Public Lands will offer foliage tours on Oct. 8 and 9 respectively. Visit http://www.parksandlands.com for more information about each event.

Go to www.visitmaine.com or call the Maine Office of Tourism at 1-888-624-6345 for more  information about fall activities and events in Maine.

Learn more about Maine Fall Foliage.