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Foliage Report for September 16, 2009

Maine's Fall Foliage on Track for Colorful Show

AUGUSTA, Maine – The rain that soaked Maine during the first half of the summer was good for something. Leaf-bearing trees throughout the state benefited from the wet weather, and are now healthy and primed for their annual color change according to the first fall foliage report from the state Department of Conservation.

"Good foliage development is a prerequisite for good fall color," said Bill Ostrofsky, a forest pathologist with the Maine Forest Service. "The plentiful summer rain allowed the foliage to develop vigorously, and most crowns now appear full, dense, and very lush. All regions appear to be on track for another spectacular season."

Currently, forest rangers in Aroostook County and the northern portions of Piscataquis and Somerset County are observing low leaf color, or less than 30 percent toward peak, along with low leaf drop. Color in the remainder of the state is very low, or less than 10 percent toward peak, with very low leaf drop. The health of foliage in northern, southern and downeast regions is particularly good, according to Ostrofsky.

Overnight temperatures in the low 40s and the continued decrease in daylight will spark the gradual change in leaf color from north to south through late October.

Maine's fall foliage conditions will be updated each Wednesday through October 21 at http://www.mainefoliage.com. Visitors to the Web site can sign up to receive the weekly reports by email and post comments about their Maine foliage adventures on the Foliage Forum page.

Guided hikes to spectacular views of turning foliage will be offered at multiple state parks on Sunday's in October.

"Maine state parks are popular destinations for leaf peepers," said Department of Conservation Commissioner Patrick McGowan. "The educational hikes will be a fun way to see and photograph foliage in a park forest."

Fall events happening this weekend include the inaugural Acadia Night Sky Festival on Mount Desert Island, the 3rd Annual Two Countries, One Bay Art Studio Tour in Lubec, Eastport and Calais; and the 12th Annual Bethel Harvest Fest.

"It's the perfect time to visit an apple orchard or a family farm with a cornstalk maze," said Pat Eltman, director of the Maine Office of Tourism. "And there's fun for all ages at community harvest festivals happening through October."

For more information about events and activities happening in Maine this fall log onto http://www.visitmaine.com

Current Conditions - The Foliage Conditions map on this page is the foliage zone map used by Maine Forest Service Rangers when reporting fall foliage conditions.

Week of September 16, 2009
Zone Number Color Change Leaf Drop
7 Low Low
6 Low Low
5 Very Low Very Low
4 Very Low Very Low
3 Very Low Very Low
2 Very Low Very Low
1 Very Low Very Low

Foliage Zones

Zone 7: Northeastern Maine, including Fort Kent, Caribou, and Presque Isle

Zone 6: Northwestern Maine

Zone 5: Western Mid-Maine, including Greenville, Rangeley, Bethel

Zone 4: Eastern Mid-Maine, including Houlton, Millinocket, and Calais

Zone 3: Central and Southwestern Maine, including Bangor, Augusta, and Fryeburg

Zone 2: DowneastMaine, including Machias, Bar Harbor, and Penobscot Bay

Zone 1: Mid-Coast and South Coastal Maine, including Camden, Portland, Kennebunkport, and Kittery