Japanese Maple on the lawn

All the “leaf peepers” want to know….when is peak foliage season here in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts?  Hmm… that’s a good question.  We have debates about this very topic ourselves as we sip our morning coffee and enjoy the view of Yokun Ridge from the conservatory.  Our historic mansion is surrounded by the glorious New England deciduous forests.  Jamie insists that peak was last week; the ash trees, Fraxinus americana, were lit like tall beeswax candles, and the ground beneath became paved in gold.  I’m pretty sure yesterday or today could be peak because our neighbor’s red maple, Acer rubrum, is starting to ignite into a burnished red-orange that makes my heart beat faster.  But then again, friends in Lenox say peak season is next week– they are still waiting for the sugar maples, Acer saccharum, to pop!

The Berkshire Scenic Railway offers a great way to see for yourself which species of trees are in peak display.  The 90-minute, 20 mile roundtrip adventure takes you from Lenox to Stockbridge and back in a restored 1920’s era train.  The ride through our beautiful Berkshires is sure to inspire the debate….just when is peak season?

Relax and soak up the view

This picture was taken by our caretaker, Chris. I can understand why he likes to be outside so much. The chairs are placed near the crest of the hill. Almost every day, guests enjoy some time on these chairs, whether it’s for a drink, reading time, talking, writing or even napping.