Green hawthorn fruits (probably Winter King cultivar), Frick Park, 28 Oct 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

1 November 2025

This week the brightest fall color disappeared from the landscape as rain and wind took down the reddest leaves. This showed off many colorful fruits to attract attention.

Above, a hawthorn tree at Frick Environmental Center is loaded with bright red fruit. I believe this is a cultivar of the green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) chosen for its winter hardiness.

Below, on Flagstaff Hill I found one tree that still had red leaves on Wednesday. Thursday’s rain and wind probably stripped it bare.

One red tree left on Flagstaff Hill, Schenley Park, 29 Oct 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) was so colorful that even the bud scales looked red.

Fragrant sumac leaves and buds near Phipps, 29 Oct 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Euonymus fortunei, planted for beauty in a Shadyside yard, shows off its bright orange fruits. Unfortunately this Asian vine “is highly invasive and damaging in the U.S., causing the death of trees and forest in urban areas.”

Fruits of Euonumous fortunei, Shadyside, 30 Oct 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

Less colorful but still interesting, milkweed seed pods opened at Moraine State Park. This one hadn’t blown away yet.

Milkweed seed pod open and ready to go, Moraine State Park, 27 Oct 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)

More changes are coming this week including FALL BACK clocks tonight.