The science behind Maryland's fall foliage palette

By Ashley Sterner,

Published October 18, 2024 at 10:05 AM EDT

To survive, trees drain their leaves of chlorophyll into places like trunks and roots as the temperatures drop ... which makes fall colors appear.Photo: Melissa Gerr — To survive, trees drain their leaves of chlorophyll into places like trunks and roots as the temperatures drop ... which makes fall colors appear. Photo: Melissa Gerr

It’s October -- Fall colors are transforming Maryland's landscape! What makes the lush summer greens transform to vibrant yellows, reds and oranges? Dan Coy, who heads urban and community forestry at the Maryland DNR breaks down the science … and offers tips for leaf peepers this weekend.

Links: Maryland DNR fall foliage map, Maryland Fall Foliage Trips, Explore Fall foliage Maryland map.

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Ashley Sterner

WYPR's Morning Edition news anchor Ashley Sterner serves up the latest Maryland news and weather every weekday morning, delightfully interspersed with the occasional snarky comment.

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Melissa Gerr

Melissa Gerr is a Senior Producer for On the Record. She started in public media at Twin Cities Public Television in St. Paul, Minn., where she is from, and then worked as a field producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting in Portland. She made the jump to audio-lover in Baltimore as a digital media editor at Mid-Atlantic Media and Laureate Education, Inc. and as a field producer for "Out of the Blocks." Her beat is typically the off-beat with an emphasis on science, culture and things that make you say, 'Wait, what?'

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