Finish untreated cedar shake exterior

Answer 1

Last week I was driving on Cape Cod, Massachusetts where I saw house after house that were had shake siding.  The color was a medium gray patina that was consistent all over the house. It looked so consistent that it actually looked from the distance like it had been painted that color.  Upon closer inspection, I was convinced that was the color of the wood that had weathered to that color.  

I live in Georgia, and unfortunately I have not encountered shake like that here.  Most often it starts out the "raw" golden look, and then over a period of time, it turns to various shades of brown, black, and ugly.  Mildew is common.

I am trying  understand what the difference is, and if I could achieve that here in Georgia.