Fall Foliage in Scandinavia

Others may have more localized news but by my experience fall in Scandinavia is often unfortunately wet. Not at all like crisp mornings and sunny days I remember from hunting season (mid-Sept to mid-Nov) in the upper midwest and eastern seaboard.
Without sunshine the colors are not as vibrant, the visibility is less and the fall leaves are more a soggy mass than a crackling pile of something that could actually blow away or be jumped into.

Talked to my cousin in Sweden today, and they were forecasting snow for this afternoon.

I think your mother is more or less right. For some reason, it is not as spectacular over here compared to e.g. New England. The colors are more brownish over here. I don't know why, but so it is!

You don't have maple trees, that's why. Poor syrup-less people.

It's all about the amount of sunshine, the amount of rain, and the kind of trees. The Scandinavian countries and much of the UK are too far north- their days get shorter sooner so the colors are not as vibrant.

Doesn't Scandinavia have mostly pine type trees. IE no leaves anyways:)

Northern and central Scandinavia has mostly pine trees, southern Scandinavia (Denmark and Southern Sweden) has mostly leaf-bearing trees. But not many maple trees, more beech.

Up close, the colors right now in this part of Germany are brilliant... but as others have noted, the atmospheric conditions don't favor the sort of vistas you get in New England. There's just too much moisture in the air, and the sun isn't as high in the sky.

I heard that the Irish countryside is popular this time of year to enjoy the fall foliage.

There are fabulous fall colors in Lapland. It's not just the trees but the shrubs, lichen, almost everything goes to reds with some golds, green, white & more. See: http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/photogalleries/ig/Fall-Foliage-in-Scandinavia/
It's hard to get the timing right though as the colors are at their best for just a few weeks. Sometime in Sept. usually -contact someone more local or specialized.

From Betty in Ohio: You guys are wonderful! Thanks so much for all the great information. I truly appreciate the thoughtfulness of everyone who's replied.