the local life: Take it Outside Peeping Paradise
Five Trees to Fall For By Luke Chinman The Berkshires puts on the best fall color show—and here’s why: According to Drew Jones, longtime caretaker of Williams College’s Hopkins Memorial Forest reserve, in our county, deciduous trees (those whose leaves change and drop) far outnumber conifers, which remain green throughout the winter. And while that makes pretty much every place a great place for leaf-peeping, Jones said his favorite spot is atop Stony Ledge in Williamstown.
Red Maple A true hallmark of fall in the Berkshires, the leaves of red maples unsurprisingly take on a deep scarlet color.
Sugar Maple Before they are tapped for syrup, these trees give an orange hue to the Berkshire landscape.
Birch
Aspen This tree’s leaves become golden yellow, and they can often hang on the branch a bit later into the season than the rest.
The bright yellow of birch leaves give a pleasing contrast to some of the darker tones across the region.
White Ash Jones’ “underrated favorite” can turn anywhere from yellow to a reddish purple, often on the same tree.