Time to enjoy leaf-peeping without leaving the Bay State
It’s leaf-peeping season in New England, one of the most popular times of year, just after the waning days of summer and before the bitter chill of winter.
Some of the best leafpeeping spots range from the Appalachian Trail in Western Massachusetts to John Paul Park in Dorchester, according to the state Office of Travel and Tourism.
“There’s no need to leave the city to see breathtaking fall foliage,” said Ryan Woods, Commissioner of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. “We put together a list of great neighborhood spots for leaf peeping at Boston.gov/parks. Viewing the changing leaves offers a pandemic-safe, outdoor activity for Bostonians and visitors alike.”
To understand why leaves change color or wither and die, you really have to begin in the spring and summer, when leaves are green because a food-making process is taking place within leaf cells containing the pigment chlorophyll, said William Babcock, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
The chlorophyll absorbs energy from sunlight and uses it to transform carbon dioxide and water into sugars, starch and other carbohydrates.
But in the autumn, the cooler temperatures and the decrease in the duration and intensity of sunlight cause the leaves to stop their foodmaking process, according
to the NWS. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow, orange or other pigments already in the leaf become visible.
Warm, sunny days and cool — but not freezing — nights bring out the most brilliant colors, whereas a few hard frosts can cause leaves to wither and fall without changing color, the weather service said.
The degree of color can also vary from tree to tree.
Leaves directly exposed to the sun can turn red, while those on the shady side can be yellow, the NWS said. Leaves tend to have less color when the autumn is mostly cloudy and rainy.
Either way, fall foliage period is a busy time for tourism in Massachusetts.
In 2019, the most recent year for which statistics were available, the state hosted nearly 3.6 million domestic and international visitors during the six weeks from mid-September through October, according to the Office of Travel and Tourism.
That figure represents about 14% of the total visitors for the year.
And those visitors spent just over $3.2 billion and generated just under $200 million in state and local taxes for Massachusetts.