Fall Foliage in Maine

For Zone 1 the best viewing time is around the Third Week of October

For Zone 2 the best viewing time is around the Second - Third Week of October

For Zone 3 the best viewing time is around the Second - Third Week of October

For Zone 4 the best viewing time is around the End of the First Week - Second Week of October

For Zone 5 the best viewing time is around the End of the First Week - Second Week of October

For Zone 6 the best viewing time is around the End of September - First Week of October

For Zone 7 the best viewing time is around the End of September - First Week of October

As the nights get colder the green pigment of the leave starts to disappear and other colors start to set in.

Trees that change into the following colors are as follows, and contributed by MaineFoliage.com

Yellow:

Green and black ash, basswood, beech, birches, butternut, and elm. In the maple species - boxelder, mountain, silver, striped and sugar. And don't forget mountain ash, poplar, serviceberry, willow, and witch hazel.

Red and Scarlet:
Red, mountain, and sugar maples; black, red, scarlet and white oak; hornbeam, sumac and tupelo.

Brown:
White and black oak

Purple:
White ash and witch hazel.

How do You preserve leaves?

There are different ways to preserve leaves, according to MaineFoliage.com, and they are as follows:

Make a solution of one-third glycerine and two parts boiling water. Place the stems in the solution while it's still hot. Keep the leaves in the solution over night. Remove and dry the next day.

To press leaves, place them between sheets of newspaper and place them under something heavy, like a stack of books. You can also press leaves with a warm iron. Place leaves between tissue or wax paper first. The color will last longer if you keep leaves out of direct sunlight and away from the air.

Let's Take a Drive

Contributed by Debbie Fowles

A Mainer's Personal Favorites

Her Favorite 10 Routes

( I personally couldn't agree more, hence it's appearance on my site )

Route 1 from Bath to Brunswick (in both directions) is a short ride but very colorful at peak. For a longer drive, continue south on Route 95 from Brunswick to Yarmouth and back.

Route 17 from Rockland to Augusta.
Route 17 from Rumford to Rangeley: includes the stunning view from Height of Land, overlooking Mooselookmeguntic Lake.
Route 22 from Portland to Route 35 in Bonny Eagle, then Route 35 north to Standish, continuing back to Portland on Route 25 East.
Route 127 South from Bath through Arrowsic and Georgetown all the way to Five Islands.
Route 105 from Camden to Hope and North Appleton, then Route 131 North to Searsmont, then Appleton Ridge Road south to Route 131 in Union, then Route 17 to Rockland.
Route 3 all around Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island (Bar Harbor), including going to the top of Cadillac Mountain.
Route 27 from Farmington to Kingfield.
Route 201 from Augusta to Waterville, Skowhegan, Solon and Bingham to Jackman, near the Canadian border. This is one of the longer rides, but it's well worth it. The Jackman area offers long vistas of mountains full of color, and 201 spends a lot of time running along the mighty Kennebec River.
Route 15/6 north from Greenville along the eastern shore of Moosehead Lake to Rockwood (don't miss Mt. Kineo in Rockwood), continuing west on Route 15/6 to Jackman. On your return, take Route 201 to Augusta (see above). Before leaving Greenwood, drive up Squaw Mountain to Squaw Ski Resort for breathtaking views along the way and from the top, looking out over Moosehead Lake.

Maine.gov

Offers the following as their best picks for scenic rides

1. From Mountaintop to the Sea Travel through MidCoast Maine for views of fall foliage from mountain-top to the sea as your vista spans from Mount Battie or the summits of Camden Hills State Park.

2. Country Roads and ApplesVeer off the beaten path down a country road inland to Hope, Appleton, or Union where there are pick-your-own orchards abound! The Common Ground Fair draws people from all over New England to Unity Maine for one special weekend, September 25-27. The drive there is spectacular.

3. Explore a New PeninsulaTravel down the Port Clyde, Boothbay or Pemaquid peninsulas, where vistas vibrant with red, gold, orange, and pine green will be interrupted by delicious seafood and secret beaches.

4. Education by the SeaAt the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, celebrate the changing colors of fall with miles of walking trails and an educational experience for the whole family. In Belfast, you also have an opportunity to sail the Penobscot on a cruise.

5. Kayak AdventureTo enjoy the autumn foliage from the ocean, including the many vibrant islands of Penobscot Bay, you can rent a kayak for a few hours or an entire day! Stop at Treats in Wiscasset for a perfect to-go lunch for your adventure.

6. Try a Corn MazeIn Warren, challenge yourself to a corn maze that was featured in Downeast Magazine at Beth’s Farm Market.

7. Blaze a TrailThere are more than ten unique trails in Brunswick, Maine for walking, hiking, and biking through the foliage. Find one that fits your level of expertise! Or, ride the rails of the Maine Eastern Railroad weekends in October.

8. Get SpookedThe Red Cloak Haunted History Tours unveil the spooky side of Rockland, Camden, Bath, Damariscotta, Wiscasset, Boothbay Harbor, and Newcastle. Explore the beauty of the region against a backdrop of history and a healthy dose of fright.

9. Up And At ‘Em!Rise above the region for leaf peeping from a chairlift at Camden Snow Bowl following their special Sunday morning Pankcake Breakfasts, Sundays in October from 9-12pm. From here, you can enjoy 360 degrees of MidCoast Maine foliage, and even see how the leaves are turning on the islands in the distance.

10. PumkinfestCelebrate autumn with a quintessential New England festival, the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest, where giant pumpkins steal the show against a beautiful autumn backdrop in this small town. October 3-12. Harvestfest in Belfast will be October 30.