Brighter foliage season forecasted for 2012

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Images from Tropical Storm Irene scared off some leaf peepers last year, but businesses hope to recoup their losses with a strong foliage season this fall after a sunny, dry summer.

Tourists are booking trips at inns to see the foliage during the five-week season, which starts in mid- to late September.

The Round Barn Farm in Waitsfield, Vermont is nearly fully booked, a relief after some tourists canceled last fall. The Woodstock Inn & Resort in Vermont had to cancel reservations for all of September last year after rooms and other areas were flooded. After multimillion-dollar renovations, the resort is already booked for Columbus Day weekend.

Visitors could see some brown patches, but experts predict the summer's dry spells won't hamper the fall colors and could even heighten them in some spots.