Peak Leaf Colors From Harford To Mongtomery Counties: DNR

MARYLAND — Fall color is putting on a show this weekend, so get out in the woods to soak it up. Peak leaf colors have arrived in seven Maryland counties, plus Baltimore City, while foliage is near its peak brilliance in three more counties, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said Friday.

Counties with tree canopies at the height of their color are: Montgomery, Frederick, Carroll, Howard, Baltimore, Harford and St. Mary's, plus the city of Baltimore.

Anne Arundel, Prince George's and Cecil counties are nearing their peak show.

Colors in the rest of southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore are at their midpoint, and the western counties have passed their peak display, the DNR said in its fall foliage report.

"Perhaps most surprising this week are reports of peak conditions out of St. Mary’s County," the DNR said. "Yes, far Southern Maryland has arrived early to the fall show, thrilling visitors with vibrant shades of burgundy and gold. Even the pawpaw trees are an especially bright mustard yellow this year.

"Leaf peepers should drive south or east to follow the color change and enjoy the exceptional fall foliage and crisp, blue sky weather we’re experiencing across the state," the foliage report said. "Don’t forget Fido! Many of our state parks allow pets to join in your favorite fall recreational activities."

Point Lookout State Park in St. Mary’s County is reporting peak conditions with bald cypress trees in shades of red and orange, and the surrounding state parks are reporting hardwoods in similar colors of gold and burgundy, said a staffer there.

"Our rangers at Sandy Point State Park are reporting an ever-changing landscape as Anne Arundel County gets into the fall game," the report said. "Watch the leaves change from midpoint to peak in the coming days, take a leisurely walk along one of the park’s scenic trails and enjoy sweeping views of the Chesapeake Bay."

Top places to see fall leaves in Maryland include:

• Patapsco Valley State Park stretches 32 miles along the Patapsco River in Baltimore and Howard counties and offers some of the best autumn scenery in Maryland
• Elk Neck State Park located on a peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and the Elk River combines colorful forests with sandy beaches for great viewing.
• Oregon Ridge Park near Cockeysville has hiking trails that showcase a tree-scape of yellow, orange and red.
• Other areas to visit close to the Baltimore-Washington metro area: Gwynnbrook Wildlife Management Area in Owings Mills, Baltimore County; Sugar Loaf Mountain Natural Resource Area in southern Frederick County; Seneca Creek State Park just southwest of Gaithersburg; and Dierssen Wildlife Management Area situated between the C&O Canal and the Potomac River in Montgomery County, offering first-rate opportunities for waterfowl watching and quiet interludes for strollers along the Canal Tow Path.

The 2022 Fall Foliage Prediction Map is a great tool to start planning leaf peeping tours instate and in neighboring states, too.

David Angotti, an expert on statistics who lives in Tennessee, created the first Fall Foliage Prediction Map for SmokyMountains.com to help visitors plan their vacations when autumn leaves are the most brilliant.

Once Angotti created the map for visitors to the Smokies, they then wanted to know about peak leaf peering times in other parts of Tennessee, so he decided to collect data for the entire country.

Map courtesy of SmokyMountains.com

To use the map, simply slide the scale to the right to see when leaves will peak in your state. Zero in on your county, and you'll be able to decide whether it's best to plan a northern, southern, eastern or western route.

What Causes The Different Colors

You probably remember from science class that the color change all starts with photosynthesis. Leaves constantly churn out chlorophyll — a key component in a plant’s ability to turn sunlight into the glucose it needs to thrive — from spring through early fall. Those cells saturate the leaves, making them appear green to the human eye.

But leaves aren’t green at all. Autumn is the time for leaves’ big reveal: their true color, unveiled as chlorophyll production grinds to a halt. The colors in fall’s breathtaking tapestry are influenced by other compounds, according to the national park’s website.

Beta-carotene, the same pigment that makes carrots orange, reflects the yellow and red light from the sun and gives leaves an orange hue.

The production of anthocyanin, which gives leaves their vivid red color, ramps up in the fall, protecting and prolonging the leaf’s life on a tree throughout autumn.

And those yellows that make you feel as if you’re walking in a ray of sunshine?

They’re produced by flavonol, which is part of the flavonoid protein family. It’s always present in leaves but doesn’t show itself until chlorophyll production begins to slow.