ANNAPOLIS — Peak fall color has arrived along the Chesapeake. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says Annapolis and Baltimore are at their height this week, with bold maples and ochre oaks, and the Eastern Shore has joined them.
West of Frederick, the show is mostly over, according to the DNR’s Nov. 5 foliage report. That makes this weekend the best window of the season for Bay-area leaf peeping, and the last one for much of the state.
The report did not include an update for Calvert, Charles or St. Mary’s counties. The DNR’s photos this week came from the Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden in Annapolis, at the northern edge of the Chronicle’s coverage area.
Region by region
- Washington County: Past peak. Forester Aaron Cook said leaves are falling despite calm, dry weather and bare trees are showing in many places, though pockets of color remain. This week’s showers should bring down more leaves.
- Baltimore County: At peak, forester Nathan House reported.
- Cecil County: Orange and gold at Fair Hill. Calm, warm days with little wind have kept leaves on the trees longer than usual, ranger Lesley Leader said.
- Mid-Shore: The Maryland Forest Service declared the Mid-Shore at peak. Forester Alex Fignar described yellows, oranges and neon reds and urged visitors to come quickly because the leaves are changing daily.
- Somerset County: Approaching peak, with bronze oaks, red maples, yellow hickories, sweet gums and dogwoods. Watch for poison ivy, which has turned red.
- Worcester County: At peak, forester Ian McGovern said, with bald cypress along the Pocomoke River turning their distinctive rusty color.
Two weeks ago, the color was concentrated in the mountains: the Chronicle reported Oct. 23 that Western Maryland had peaked as central Maryland neared full color. The Oct. 29 report showed the wave moving east.
Wildfire season starts as leaves fall
The end of foliage season is the start of fall wildfire season, the DNR warned. Maryland’s wildfire activity peaks in spring and fall, when bare branches let sun and wind reach and dry the forest floor. Nearly all of the state’s wildfires are caused by people, and debris burning is the leading cause. The agency asked residents to be especially careful with outdoor fires while dry leaves cover the ground.
Early risers: moon and Venus Saturday
The report’s sky watch points to the morning of Saturday, Nov. 7, when a thin crescent moon and Venus rise side by side in the southeast around 5 a.m. The pair should stay visible until dawn washes them out around 6:20 a.m. With a new moon Nov. 9, the coming nights are dark enough to catch a few late meteors from the Taurid shower in the direction of the constellation Taurus.
Tree grants for local groups
The DNR also highlighted its Community Forestry Catalyst Fund, a single application that gives local governments, nonprofits, schools, community associations and businesses access to several tree-care funding sources, including federal urban forestry money, the state transportation department’s Urban Tree Program and Tree-Mendous Maryland. Individuals cannot apply.
Standard requests can be up to $10,000 and require a cash or in-kind match, with no minimum. Eligible work includes forest planning, invasive plant control, planting and tree care, and volunteer training. Applications are reviewed twice a year; the next deadline is Jan. 15, 2027. Questions go to forestry_grants.dnr@maryland.gov.
