ON THE GROUND IN THE GREEN MOUNTAINS

Vermont’s foresters are charged with overseeing conservation and land management projects in the Green Mountains. That means they get a lot of face time with the stars of Vermont’s renowned fall foliage show, the trees, including red and sugar maples, poplars, beech, and oak. Here, a handful of foresters share their view from the woods as leaves change from green to red, orange, and yellow.

County: Chittenden

How long have you been a forester? 11 years

What makes your region of Vermont forest unique from other areas of the state? While most of Chittenden County remains rural, we are the most populous county in the state, containing about a quarter of its people. Development brings about challenges that pose a threat to our forests’ ability to provide habitat for our native species, to be resilient in a changing climate, and to benefit the culture, the character, the local economies and the ecology of this county.  However, I also see the denser population of Chittenden County as an opportunity: here we have a chance to educate more people about the value of our forests and other ecosystems and what it means to take care of them. A lot of my work centers around education and outreach, giving people the tools to understand how to be stewards of our forests, and Chittenden County is the perfect place to do this.

How is the foliage in your region right now? In the last week of September, the trees are just beginning to change colors. We will probably see the foliage pick up steam in very early October, reaching peak foliage around mid-October. The extremely wet summer caused leaf fungi on some trees, resulting in early drop of affected leaves. This happens every year in varying degrees, but once the affected leaves drop, what is left gets to shine, especially given the good weather we’ve been having. My favorite places to see foliage are driving down Nashville Road in Jericho towards West Bolton, on Honey Hollow Road in Bolton, and from the top of Camels Hump!

What do you like to do in your off time in area? In my spare time I manage my own 175-acre forest in Bolton, Vermont with the help of my trusty Timberjack skidder, “Red”. I also play in a 10-piece punk band called The Bubs.

Where would you recommend visitors go? Go see some music and eat some amazing food in Burlington.