October 02, 2022

It is crazy that we enjoyed the warmth of 80s degrees just a week ago, and now we are dealing with a high in the lower 60s. But this is the pattern of seasons change. So you should expect temperatures to go up a little and drop back down.
However, low temperatures and daylight getting shorter expedite things in terms of foliage and help bring brighter colors to the city and the northeast area.

Foliage stage in NYC

As I said, low temperatures expedited the color change in the city, and you can see dramatic progress in many different trees.
Mature White Oaks are changing their leaves to beautiful yellow, about 20-30 per cent changed.
Silver Maples are moving in the right direction with a nice red top, about 10 per cent changed.
Liquid Amber trees, usually bring magnificent colors at peak, have a few colorful branches with pretty colors, which are worth mentioning.
Pin Oaks are also wearing a bit of orange-red colors and are about 5 per cent changed.

Here are some pictures I took yesterday in Greenpoint, Brooklyn:

Maple Trees

Maple trees are prevalent in the northeast areas and can bring us bright colors during the Fall. But there are so many kinds of Maple trees. So how can you identify them?
It is easier once you become familiar with their shape differences.

Another prevalent Maple is the Norway Maple, an invasive European tree first introduced to North America between 1750 and 1760. I tended to misidentify Norway Maples as Sugar Maples or as Red Maples. However, there the small details can tell you the differences:
Norway maple will have more dense leaves grows.
Sugar and Red maples will have their seeds in early spring, while Norway maples will spread their seeds during fall.
A red maple leaf often has three lobes, while the Norway and sugar maples tend to look like they have five. Also, the edges of the leaf’s jagged sawtooth pattern can give you another clue. Red maples have that, but Norway and sugar maples have smooth-edged leaves.

Foliage outside NYC

Deciding where and especially where to go and watch the foliage in peak color can be a struggle.
However, there are many sources that can help you make a better decision.

NY – I love NY foliage report – This popular IG page with a website gives a weekly report on the foliage progression around NY state. Reports are obtained from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon.
Maine – If you want to visit Maine this fall, you should check out the state’s official website, which gives the foliage report for Maine state. The report covers seven different zones and has six levels of foliage statues.
Pennsylvania – PA DCNR follows the fall season with complete reports with all PA regions. Like Maine, they also set 6 different levels of foliage progression.
Vermont – Vermont’s official website provides foliage reports based on the Vermont Department of Tourism and volunteer members of their “Leaf Squad” from around the state. Their foliage levels are simple and have only four stages.
New Hampshire – VisitNH website gives detailed foliage reports. While others use maps to visualize the foliage progression around the state, NH provides information about the seven zones.