BROOKLYN IS ABLAZE WITH FALL COLOR, and I’m jealous. As far as autumn’s glories go, the East End of Long Island is a dud. The native forest here is mostly oak, and oak just turns brown.
Not so in Columbia County, where brilliant yellow birches and red maples are coloring the hills right now (I was lucky enough to be there last weekend). And not so in Brooklyn, whose varied street trees can be positively stunning in October, especially in a wet year like this one.
Next Saturday, October 24, a Brooklyn blog, Sustainable Flatbush, is sponsoring the first-ever Fall Street Tree Walking Tour in Victorian Flatbush, an autumnal counterpart to its successful springtime walking tour.
Tour guides will be Tracey Hohman, a professional gardener, and Chris Kreussling, aka Flatbush Gardener, both neighborhood residents. They’ll lead you down Albemarle Road’s planted median, flanked by spectacular architecture and beautiful private gardens; ID the neighborhood’s trees, some of which are 100 years old; and point out the lasting impact of the great Brooklyn Tornado of August 2007 (why don’t I remember that?) Soon you’ll be able to recognize Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum), a native with leaves of yellow and purple on the same tree, and many more.
A map with a complete list of trees is here.
There are two departures, at 11AM and 12 noon, both starting at Sacred Vibes Apothecary, 376 Argyle Road, just south of Cortelyou Road.
The 2-hour tour is FREE and takes place rain or shine.
Photo: Chris Kreussling, Flatbush Gardener
casaCARA 
Thanks for the heads-up on the tour. My husband, I think, has us wrapped in some sort of who-knows-what this coming weekend but the tour sounds great! Chris and Tracy are terrific. I hope the weather is brilliantly clear and the air fresh and sweet!