As drought persists, scientists expect a spectrum of foliage conditions

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As days get shorter and nights get colder across Vermont, green valleys and hillsides will soon be flush with splotches of yellow, orange and red. Because of the state’s drought, scientists suspect that some trees may drop their leaves earlier — but not without providing humans a spectacle.

“Every year is different, and that’s the cool thing about fall foliage,” said Ali Kosiba, who studies the impacts of climate change on trees and forest ecol