Conn. - Each autumn, millions of people flock to New England for a glimpse of the brilliant red, orange and yellow leaves. The trees are not as robust as they should be, though their roots are very deep. I pray they will be all right,'' she said. Much of the East Coast has been stuck for weeks in a devastating drought, by some accounts one of the worst this century. Foresters across New England predict that if the drought continues, the leaves will begin to change color in late September instead of mid-October.
Some trees are brown.
Connecticut state forester Donald Smith said some birches and red maples already have begun to turn color, but the damage has been limited. It has a great chance of recovery. In New Hampshire, the state director of forests and lands doesn't think tourists and others will be able to see the trees through the forest. We don't believe folks are going to be able to tell much of difference,'' he said. It may be that some of my new trees will die, but I think it's too early to tell.'' While some bed and breakfast owners worry about the financial repercussions of a poor foliage season, Wilhelmina Smith, owner of the Highland Lodge in Greensboro, Vt., isn't worried.