San Francisco’s Washington Thorn Flush Bright Red

 

When Ben Carlson of San Francisco’s Friends of the Urban Forest asked colleagues what fall color they were seeing in The City, he said they responded, “Not much – San Francisco is always late.”  

True.  SF peaks from now through Thanksgiving Day, though notable exceptions are the bright yellow of exotic Ginkgos (Ginkgo biloba and American Sweet Gums (Liquidambar styracifluas). Then, Doug Wildman, FUF’s program director, mentioned to Carlson that Washington Thorns (Crataegus phaenopyrums) are showing fall color and red berries throughout San Francisco.  He sent these photos of a tree that FUF planted in 1999.

San Francisco (Patchy 10-50%) – The City should be peaking over the next three weeks.  It’s now patchy, though SF’s fall color should move to near peak between this weekend and Thanksgiving Day.  Beautiful color is seen throughout the city’s neighborhoods, though is best in Golden Gate Park at the Arboretum and Japanese Tea Garden, where it is peaking now.