Birch Ridge Inn with a backdrop of fall color 

The color change in the trees is continuing it's advance. Fall foliage visitors, aka "leaf peepers", should be very happy with the colors in the Green Mountains this season. it looks like there has been a great combination of moisture and fair temperatures all summer to make this fall foliage season especially brilliant.

Mary and I have been busy around the inn on a variety of odd jobs to get the inn ready for our fall foliage guests. I spent a good part of today in the kitchen, doing the usual pre-foliage maintenance to make sure that the equipment is running properly so we can feed our guests. Mary has been starting to go through the gardens, culling the plants that have passed so that the plants that shine in the fall can rightfully take center stage.

While we have had guests at the inn each night, there is a sharp upturn in guests later this week, which will carry straight through until the week after Columbus Day. Starting this Wednesday (September 27th), our restaurant will be serving dinner nightly until the end of the fall season. It should be a great fall season for visitors to Vermont.

Fall colors alive
in the Roaring Brook Valley
at Killington 

Even though there is a light drizzle and some mountain fog, every where you go today in Killington, if you are paying attention, you will see great fall colors. The cool air of the last couple of days has started to really draw out the color.

Killington today is a mix of red maples, yellowing birches, orange oaks, and green poplars. Most of the trees have started their fall progression, right on time if notes from previous years mean anything. Assuming we do not have a major wind storm, the next 20 days should be punctuated with brilliant colors through out the area as fall progresses.

This years version of the "Great Pumpkin"
greets visitors to the Birch Ridge Inn 

If you think about it too hard, fall in Vermont can be a bittersweet season. On the bitter side, sunlight is fading, temperatures are falling, flowers are disappearing. Playing golf, you notice a definite crispness in the air. You wonder when you get dressed in the morning, should you retire the summer shorts and opt for long pants and a sweater...

But then there is the sweetness.

The trees on the mountains fire up a dazzling color show unlike anything else in the world. Farmers are finishing their harvests, resulting in all kinds of variety in the local food supply. Great pumpkins and squashes make their appearance after growing in the fields all summer. With the cold nights, you know that snow season is just around the corner, creating all kinds of new opportunities to play outdoors. It seems like everyone in town is doing ski training exercises to get ready for the coming season. There is definitely a sense of anticipation as summer slides into fall.

Mary cutting back the garden
for winter at the ski shed
at Birch Ridge. 

The season is rapidly changing at Killington this year. Every day the fall foliage colors are more brilliant than the last. The nights are getting colder, the days not quite as warm.

At the inn, the seasonal shift has begun. Mary has begun the process of cutting back many of the gardens to prepare for the winter months. Our first load of fire wood is on order and due for delivery next week. Fall Foliage guests are making their plans to visit with us. We have even started to book ski packages for the upcoming winter season. The season is changing.

The 3rd hole at the Killington
Resort Golf Course starting
to display fall foliage colors. 

Fall Foliage season is upon us in Killington. On today's blog posting, you will see that the Birch Ridge Inn Flower of the Day picture, displayed on the right side of the blog page all summer, has been supplemented with the Birch Ridge Inn Fall Foliage picture of the day. Over the course of the next several weeks, we will try to document the progression of fall foliage in the Killington area with daily pictures of trees around the inn. We hope that you enjoy the change in seasons from summer into fall.

The Contessa Diane
with her husband David
and special guest. 

Killington's very own "Contessa", Diane Rosenblum, was the guest of honor at a surprise birthday party held for her Sunday evening at the beautiful home of Rick and Noel Gluck. The party, to celebrate Diane's 60th birthday, was arranged in part by Roberta Lynch to thank Diane for surprising Bert with a party to celebrate the same milestone last month.

Guests at the party were all provided with mock leopard skin golf visors to pay homage to Diane's well known penchant of always making sure her headgear coordinates with her outfits while playing sports.

Local attorney MB Neisner provided comic relief for the evening, appearing in a quite fetching gold lame' jumpsuit. Diane, who is known to wear a gold lame' ski suit with matching helmet to the mountain for winter skiing, announced to the crowd after seeing MB that she would be retiring her gold lame' outfits in favor of more practical leathers and fur. After seeing MB, who was a great sport, we don't blame her! Happy Birthday Diane!

Golfers on Fifth Green at Killington Golf Course 

It is just a beautiful late summer day in Killington. Fall foliage colors are unmistakably making an appearance. When combined with bright blue skies dotted with puffy clouds, and temperatures in the high 70's to low 80's, it is just a perfect day to be outside.

Mary and I took our usual walk around town at mid day. As we were walking, we noticed that the Forerunner Ski Shop was open, so we stop bye to say hello to the owners. Like all of the other ski shops at Killington, they were busy getting the shop ready for the all important Columbus Day Weekend. Every shop in the area traditionally opens on Columbus Day Weekend with great early season equipment deals, and very attractive pricing on merchandise left from last season.

The Killington Golf Course was also busy with people playing late season rounds. Todays picture is looking through the trees towards the fifth green. You can see all of the trees in the background are starting to change into their fall foliage regalia. It looks like it is going to be like this for the next couple of days. Hopefully we will be able to get out and chase the little white ball for a few holes.