R Todd King: Autumn Photos 2009

Groton, Massachusetts. The weather this summer throughout New England was unusually cool and wet, which was bound to have some sort of effect on the leaves this autumn. Problem was, no one could seem to agree on what that effect would be. So, for future reference, here are the results.

North Acton, Massachusetts. First: red leaves seemed to have far more intense color than usual - so intense that I was tempted to lower the color saturation of these photographs to make them appear more “real.” Taking photographs of autumn color this year was effortless.

Acton, Massachusetts. Second: the color came out early, particularly around bodies of water. This photograph near a stream outside of Boston was taken in mid-September, but the color in this spot and many others on the outskirts of Boston was out the first week of September. I cannot recall seeing color emerge that early.

Groton. Third: more leaves were on the trees, by far, than in years past. Far more acorns and pine cones were on the trees as well, which caused enough people to be pelted and enough windshields to be broken and enough people to fall on walkways covered with layers of acorns like marbles to be reported in the local newspapers. Long after the color is gone this year, there will be fat squirrels running all over New England.

Groton. Fourth: the leaves fell early, by a week or two. This came as a surprise, as I expected that the heavy canopies of leaves meant that the foliage would stick around much longer than usual. It didn't happen; places I photographed years ago at peak had lost most of their leaves by the same date this year. It was as if the entire foliage season shifted forward two weeks. This photograph was taken in mid-October, not-quite-peak in a normal year, yet most of the leaves were already on the ground.

North Acton. Nevertheless, the foliage was stunning this year, and anyone lucky enough to have visited on the early side of autumn saw quite a show. These photographs was taken in the Acton-Littleton-Groton area northwest of Boston.

North Acton.

Groton.

Groton. Shot pointing straight up.

Groton.

Oreo cookie cows! Belted Galloways in Groton. I first saw this breed during my trip to Maine in 2004, in Rockport, near Camden, so I recognized them right away when I drove past this farm and had to stop.