The Foliage Theory

Honestly now, do you ever remember a more magnificent Maine autumn? October is always a special time in Maine, but wasn’t there something extraordinary, this time around, about the oranges of the tamaracks, the crimsons of the swamp maples and the yellows of the poplars? Or is it merely that my gray hairs have heightened my awareness and appreciation for Nature’s fall display?
I suspect it is a little of both. Neighbors on the lake where we live seemed to be reaching for new superlatives this year to express their delight. One said that “the woods seem to be on fire!” Another said that she could not ever remember such “intensity in the swamp maples.”
What knocks my socks off is the last blush of deep rust of the beech leaves just before they are driven earthward to join the Great Detritus Cycle. This winter I will try to capture that rust color with my watercolor paints. Maybe an Indian Madder or a Burnt Sienna with a tad of Cadmium Orange.
If you are wondering, like I, what causes these special October colors, here, from an online info site, is the scientific lowdown:
The amount and brilliance of the colors that develop in any particular autumn season are related to weather conditions that occur before and during the time the chlorophyll in the leaves is dwindling. Temperature and moisture are the main influences.
A succession of warm, sunny days and cool, crisp but not freezing nights seems to bring about the most spectacular color displays. During these days, lots of sugars are produced in the leaf but the cool nights and the gradual closing of veins going into the leaf prevent these sugars from moving out.
The amount of moisture in the soil also affects autumn colors. Like the weather, soil moisture varies greatly from year to year. The countless combinations of these two highly variable factors assure that no two autumns can be exactly alike.
A fund-raising supper not to miss
The Maine Air National Guard will hold its 55th annual Sportsmen’s Supper Friday, Dec 9th at the Anah Shrine Building on Broadway in Bangor. Guest speaker for the event will be Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Deputy Commissioner Tim Peabody. EmCee for the supper will be local comedian Adam Hatch.
Last year the supper was sold out. More than 400 sportsmen, sportswomen and children attended the supper and prize raffle, which netted in excess of $15,000. Proceeds were donated to assist Maine guard families and local area charities.
According to MSgt Chris LaBonte, who spearheads the annual supper, there will be prizes galore, great food and a fun evening. “As always, we will be selling advance tickets. Since we ran out of seats last year, it’s a good idea to get your tickets early,“ says LaBonte.
Tickets are $25, which covers meals and door prizes. They are available at TBA on Hammond Street and Dorsey Furniture in Holden, or from LaBonte 754-7162 and Adam Morrow at 659-1486.
Take it from me, as a former EmCee for the Guard’s famous fund-raising supper, this is a fun-filled evening that is open to all civilians as well as Air Guard folks.
The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide and host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network. He has three books. Online purchase information is available at www.maineoutdoorpublications.com.