BALTIMORE, MD—In Western Maryland, the fall foliage season is coming to a close, while trees in Central Maryland are at their peak.

“In Anne Arundel, the sun-splashed yellow hickory leaves are sprinkled through the forest canopy. The red black gum are prominent while sweet gum are reddening up,” says Francis Smith of the Maryland Forest Service.

“In the Hagerstown watershed forest, the sugar maple, sweet birch, and tulip poplar are positively glowing with the fine weather we’ve had,” Forester Bob Schwartz reports. “These less developed areas with more extensive shallow groundwater flow seem to be avoiding the lackluster color predicted due to the drought this summer.”

Assateague Island’s evergreen pine trees exhibit fall color, says Assistant Park Manager Meghan Rhode.

“Whether it is the orange of the monarch butterfly, the bright yellow of the goldenrod or red-brown coats of the Assateague ponies,” she said.

Garrett and Allegany Counties: According to Melissa Nash, Garrett and Allegany Project Manager for the Maryland Forest Service, this is likely her last report from Garrett County for the year as the foliage season is winding down.

“The oaks are putting on the final show with golden to burgundy tones. If you’re wanting to see fall foliage in Garrett County — do it soon before it’s gone!” As evidenced by low water levels in many bodies of water, Garrett County is experiencing severe to extreme drought. “With continued warm and dry weather in the forecast I don’t expect the remaining color to last much past the end of October this year.”

Washington County: According to Aaron Cook, Forester for the Maryland Forest Service in Washington County, peak fall color has not been uniform across the county this year.

“Some areas of the county are at or will soon be at peak color, these include the ridges in the western part of the county and South Mountain in the north. The lower elevations of these same ridges along the Potomac River are a little further behind, but may be at peak color by this weekend, and our oaks are still just beginning to change color, although they are not known for the vibrant reds and yellows that our other forest trees produce,” Cook said.

View photos of the fall foliage around Maryland online at the Department of Natural Resources here.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.