Maryland Fall Foliage report for Saturday, November 19, 2022 – The Southern Maryland Chronicle

“Autumn doesn’t at all times promise that winter will come, however she works exhausting till each coloured leaf has reached its vacation spot.”

Terri Guillemets

Fall 2022: A Yr for the Leaf Peepers

Though some timber within the southern and japanese elements of our state nonetheless proudly show vibrant clusters of orange and crimson, a lot of the leaves have fallen, with colder temperatures, occasional gusty winds, and rain showers closing out our autumn season.  

The cooler nights we’ve come to anticipate this time of yr are a key element of the climate situations that profit our foliage at the start of the season. A lot of Maryland skilled cooler nights mixed with heat days in late September and all through October. Preceded by wholesome doses of rain, sun-filled days and crisp nights present ideally suited situations for colourful leaf adjustments. Cooler temperatures shut the veins of the leaves, preserving highly effective – and colourful – sugars inside. These sugars are warmed by the solar throughout fall’s finest days, spurring on wealthy gold, orange, and crimson hues. On account of these ideally suited fall foliage situations, the leaf peppers acquired fairly a present this yr, from the mountainous areas of Western Maryland to the coastal forests and parks of our south.

What to Count on from Winter in Maryland: Let it, Snow, Let it, Snow, Let it Snow.

Children (and a few adults) rejoice! Though winter temperatures will probably be under regular, precipitation and snowfall will probably be above regular, in line with the Almanac. The coldest durations will probably be in early December, early and late January, and most of February. The snowiest durations will probably be early to mid-January, late January, and late February.

Professional Tip: What ought to I learn about deciding on firewood?

Many individuals want to warmth their houses with wooden, and for a superb purpose. Wooden provides a wealthy, dry warmth that appears to heat you from the within out. Many additionally want the dancing flame of the hearth to that of a fuel or oil burner. Plus, trendy wooden stoves cut back air pollution.

Selecting wooden is straightforward. Oak has extra warmth content material than maple, however the principle consideration is dryness. It takes about 12 months to season firewood absolutely — that’s, to air-dry sufficient to permit it to burn effectively. Inexperienced wooden—that which isn’t but sufficiently dry—burns poorly. It provides off extra smoke and fewer warmth, plugs up your chimney, and in the end wastes your cash. Species matter lower than dryness, so no matter wooden you utilize, ensure it’s been break up in half, if not quarters, for not less than 9 months earlier than burning.

For individuals who lower their wooden, keep in mind that we’ve a severe invasive pest in our woods: the emerald ash borer. Although therapy efforts are underway, this devastating beetle has no predators and ravages our ash timber. And it’s not the one unhealthy bug on the market. The ambrosia beetle, black walnut twig beetle, and gypsy moth might all hitch rides in vans loaded with firewood. For that reason, Maryland’s state parks don’t permit you to enter together with your wooden.

For extra data and a wooden comparability chart, go to the Maryland Forest Service web site: