Maryland Fall Foliage Report Oct. 8
Sunny days, cool nights and a heavy frost have accelerated leaf change in Western Maryland. The region is seeing its peak this week into next week.
A little farther east in Washington County leaves are just starting to change, but a quick transition is expected. On the Eastern Shore, cedars are starting to change color, leading the color parade.
Monroe Overlook. Photo by Melissa Nash.
Maryland State Parks have some fun events planned to enjoy the fall weather and the spooky season – check out the Happenings section below! Smokey Bear is making an appearance in the Autumn Glory Fireman’s Parade in downtown Oakland on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.
Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County features a viewfinder at Clopper Lake equipped with EnChroma lenses, which help people with red-green color blindness see the true hues of changing leaves.
EnChroma Viewfinder at Seneca Creek
Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County features a scenic view finder equipped with EnChroma lenses, which help viewers with red-green color blindness view the true hues of foliage.
To use the viewfinder, park at the lower Boat Center lot near the self-launch ramp. Follow the gravel path to the shoreline, and you’ll find the viewfinder waiting at the end of the trail.
Foliage Reports
Forester Melissa Nash, Garrett County
Leaves covered in frost. Photo by Josh Brenneman.
Leaves have rapidly changed in Garrett County in the past few days with warm sunny days, cool nights and a heavy frost. Some areas of the county, especially around Meadow Mountain, Savage River Reservoir and Big Run, should see a peak in color this week. Other areas of the county will follow, peaking into next week.
Muddy Creek Falls. Photo by Josh Brenneman.
The highlight of the week for Western Maryland is the 59th Annual Autumn Glory Festival Oct 7-11. Many events including parades, craft and vendor shows, music, turkey dinners, fall foliage driving tours and more are taking place throughout the county. Smokey Bear will appear, courtesy of the Maryland Forest Service, in the Fireman’s Parade on Thursday evening – the parade starts (weather permitting) at 7 p.m. in downtown Oakland. Visit autumnglory.com for more information.
Watershed Forester Bob Schwartz, Washington County
A linden tree starting to show gold. Photo by Bob Schwartz.
While the ridges of Washington County are mostly unchanged, glimpses of gold and red can be seen amidst the green. The cooler nights over the last few days have moved things along and the predicted moisture this weekend should help trees retain their splendor a bit longer. Early turners like black walnut, hackberry, and black locust are moving quickly to yellow but falling just as fast. Meanwhile, the classic reds of autumn have begun to shift color with red maple, blackgum, and flowering dogwood discernable from a distance. Should the cool weather pattern continue, and we see periodic rain, things should change rapidly over the next few weeks.
Old-field aster.
Meanwhile, along grassland edges, the aptly-named old-field aster is in full bloom. This native, rambunctious perennial aster is often found in areas that have been out of cultivation for a year or two, are periodically disturbed, or in inconvenient spots in the garden. However, if you let it grow to its full stature, it will reward you with numerous bee-covered white blooms from early September to frost. Native annual wildflowers and short-lived, easily-dispersed perennials like old-field aster fill in spots in the landscape where bare ground has been created by disturbance. This helps exclude invasive species, which also thrive on disturbance, and heal plant communities, until slower dispersing but longer-lived species take their place, making them some of nature’s loveliest band-aids.
Forester Dakota Durcho, Frederick County
Photo by Dakota Durcho.
Most trees still remain mostly green; however, they are beginning to transition. The increased moisture from last week and cooler temperatures have pushed trees in the right direction. As in the previous few weeks the blackgum, black walnut, and flowering dogwood have seen the most change. The red maple has seen the most change over the past, turning a vibrant red. Some of the hickories and oaks are showing more signs as well. The next two to three weeks will see the greatest change of the season.
Project Forester Nathan House, Baltimore County
Linden viburnum seedling.
A host of factors including temperature, drought, and species genetics are responsible for the palette of fall tree color. Currently, red maples, Virginia, creeper, and black gum give vibrant pops of red across Baltimore County. Yellows from poplars and understory sugar maple and black gum are announcing a more subtle fall approach.
Not all fall color is good from a land management perspective. The small linden viburnum seedling pictured above is an invasive exotic.
Ranger Lesley Leader, Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area
Sunken Road at Fair Hill by Ranger Jake Bonner.
Nighttime temperatures have been very crisp this week, leading to moderate color change and leaf drop in the northeastern corner of Maryland.
Maple at Gallaher Arena by Ranger Jake Bonner.
Black gums are bright red, many Norway maples are a brilliant orange and the Sycamores are dropping their brown leaves.
Socks the cat with a sycamore tree. Photo by Jake Bonner.
It feels like fall throughout the region.
Ranger Joanna Trojanowski, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad and Visitor Center, Dorchester County
Photo by Ranger Joanna Trojanowski.
Still mostly green in Dorchester County with young Atlantic Bald Cypress and Sweet Gum trees leading the color change.
Forester Rachel Egolf, Somerset County
Somerset County trees are still busy utilizing the sun before the chlorophyll disappears and shows us the other color pigments left in the leaves. Cooler nights and shorter days will signal the trees to start preparing for a more colorful fall in the weeks ahead. This is the time of year where you have to consciously look to see the color changes across the fields and in the wooded hedgerows. Sweet gums are showing a bit of yellow in the canopies and black gums have occasional red leaves. Bald cypress needles have hints of orange at the end of branches.
Celestial Report
Moonrise. Photo by Anthony Burrows.
From October 6-10 the Draconids meteor shower will be active, with a peak on Oct. 7. Although this shower is not a blockbuster, it can produce up to 10 meteors per hour. The best viewing is in the early evening. With a new moon on Oct. 10, the sky will be very dark and should provide good viewing conditions. Generally you have to stay up late to see a meteor shower, but this one will start just after nightfall around 9 p.m. Look to the north.
You may also get to see meteors from the Southern Taurid meteor shower, it peaks on Oct. 10. Look to the eastern horizon from 10 p.m. to dawn the next day. The radiant point gets higher in the sky as the night turns into day so staying up late, or getting up early, is your best bet for this event.
On October 21-22 the Orionid meteor shower takes over. This is a little more active – you could see up to 20 meteors per hour. This shower is produced by dust particles left behind by the comet Halley. This one will be later, and with a pretty bright moon it may be hard to see some of the faint meteors. But the moon will set at 2:20 a.m. so viewing in the very early morning may be your best bet.
An illustration showing where the Orionid meteor shower will appear in the sky.
We wrap up with a full moon on Oct. 26. The October Moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon. It has also been called the Travel Moon and Blood Moon. It will rise at 6:13 p.m. If you can, catch the moonrise. Close to the horizon, the moon will look especially large and may have an orange tint. It will set at 9:18 a.m. on Oct. 27.
Count Your Tree
Happenings
Helmets and Harvest
Check out the Helmets and Harvest AgriTrail, which celebrates Maryland’s bike trails and agritourism businesses! Pick a region to explore, then check in at designated bike paths and businesses to earn points toward autumnal swag – 10 points for a sticker, 15 points for a water bottle, and 20 points for a knit beanie!
More information and links to sign up are available on the Maryland’s Best website.
Sang Run State Park Haunted Hike
October 9 at 6:15 p.m.
Sang Run State Park
Bring a flashlight or headlamp and wear solid footwear. Light to moderate hike
Woven Bookmarks
Oct. 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cedarville State Forest
10201 Bee Oak Road
Come make a woven bookmark, and learn about historical textiles in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Email [email protected] to register.
Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center After Dark
October 17, 6-8 p.m.
Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center
Come check out The Discovery Center after dark! We’ll have our reptile ambassadors out to greet you, some crafts and a few spooky things to do while you’re visiting.
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Self-Guided Haunted Hike
Oct. 17, 7-9 p.m.
New Germany State Park
403 McAndrews Hill Road, Grantsville
If you’re up for a spooky adventure, don’t miss this 1.5-mile self-guided haunted hike. Please bring a flashlight or headlamp to get to and from the trail safely. Be sure to drop by the Nature Center before or after your hike for hot cocoa, while supplies last. This event is sponsored by the Friends of New Germany. There is no fee, but donations are welcome. NOTICE: This activity will include frightening scenes, startling sounds, and walking on uneven terrain after dark. It may not be suitable for young children. Pets are not allowed.
Fungi Fest
Nov. 7, 9 a.m. to noon
Pocomoke River State Park Shad Landing Area
Celebrate all things fungi while promoting healthy, active lifestyles and a love of the outdoors. The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon, beginning with a 5K walk/run followed by a farmers market-style festival featuring vendors, live music, interpretive programs, arts and crafts, and family-friendly yard games.
