California Fall Color

Dude, autumn happens here, too.

Magnolias, Golden Gate Park (file photo) David Kruse-Pickler

Magnolia denudata (file photo) David Kruse-Pickler

Magnolia campbellii, Darjeeling (file photo) David Kruse-Pickler

Magnolia cambellii (file photo) James Gaither

With a succession of three winter storms lashing Northern California today, it seems appropriate to blog about winter color, though as soon as the storms pass, there’ll still be a few weeks more of fall color to report.

Each winter, one of California’s most distinctive and colorful shows of foliage is seen at the San Francisco Botanical Garden where nearly 100 rare and historic magnolias erupt in a fragrant riot of vibrant pink and white flowers.

This floral spectacle is worth planning a trip to San Francisco to see.  Some of the ancient trees reach 80 feet in height and peak from mid-January through March.  Visitors to the Garden can take advantage of free Magnolia Walk maps, docent-led tours, special signage and more to celebrate and learn about these magnificent trees.

San Francisco Botanical Garden is home to the most significant magnolia collection for conservation purposes outside China, where the majority of species originated. Its current collection includes 51 species and 33 cultivars, including many prized examples from Asia.

This unique and long-standing collection began in 1939 with Eric Walther, who planted the very first magnolia in the Garden and continued to introduce species and cultivars throughout his tenure as the first Garden Director. One of the most famous species he planted was the cup and saucer magnolia or Magnolia campbellii, the first of its kind to bloom in the United States in 1940, attracting huge crowds of excited and curious visitors who stood in long lines to see the magnificent large pink blossoms of this lovely magnolia that still stands in the Garden today.

The show is best, mid-January to March.  The garden is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Jan., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Feb. and early March, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the second Sunday in March through Apr.  Admission is free to San Francisco residents with proof of residence and $7 general, $5 seniors and students (12 – 17) with ID, $2 children (5-11) and free to kids 4 and under.  Family passes (2 adults and one or more kids) get in for a flat rate of $15.

More is found at www.sfbotanicalgarden.org or call (415) 661-1316.

Color spotter Ben Carlson of San Francisco’s Friends of the Urban Forest checked in with some details of what to look for in San Francisco this autumn.  He reports, “Though we haven’t seen any fall color yet in San Francisco, we know we’ll be enjoying some good colors soon, thanks to our great collection of street trees:

• “We’ll see yellows and golds on our London Planes (Platanus x acerfolia), Golden Rain Trees (Koelreuteria paniculata), Raywood Ashes (Fraxinus oxycarpa ‘Raywood’), Red Horsechestnuts (Aesculus carnea, of which we have many on Dolores Street) and Gingkos (Ginkgo biloba, in the Castro neighborhood).
• “Our Flowering Cherries (Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’) will turn orange-yellow, and our Chinese Elms (Ulmus parvifolia, of which we have many on Folsom Street) will turn either yellow or reddish-purple.
• “Our Washington Thorns (Crataegus phaenopyrum, in the Noe Valley neighborhood) will turn orange to scarlet, and our Chinese Pistaches (Pistacia chinensis, of which we have many on Harrison Street) will turn orange and red.
• “Flowering Pears (Pyrus calleryana) will turn reddish, and our Sweet Gums (Liquidambar styraciflua, at Fell and Baker streets) will turn many colors.”

San Francisco’s color tends to show best from late October through November.  Thanksgiving Day is often peak, providing fitting autumnal festivity to the holiday.

First sign of autumn color in Mono County (Alicia Vennos – 8/23/12)

California Fall Color has begun hearing from color spotters that the first signs of fall color are appearing… still a month from the official start of autumn!

The photo at left was shot today by color spotter Alicia Vennos of an aspen in Mono County.  And, so we are able to say that Mono County is the first to report and that color is showing 0-15%.

Newly “knighted” color spotter Carol Brandt reports from San Rafael (Marin County) that “the cherry trees have a quarter of their leaves turning orange/red, several large Liquidambar are also changing color to orange/red, with Japanese Maples going from their deep-red summer color to lighter orange and yellow.  Carol’s lilac trees have completely gone from summer green to bright yellow and apricot leaves are turning yellow.”  So, let’s put Marin County on the charts (at least for the exotics she describes), as 0 – 15% have turned.

For those unfamiliar with our scale, it is the same color scale used by The Weather Channel (they asked that we use it for consistency).  It measures the % of overall change of color in a forest, not on a given tree.  We think it’s also helpful to guide trips to see color.  Leaf peepers and photographers want to know when to be in a given area when it’s approaching peak or at peak, the scale helps guide travel planning.

Let’s use Alicia’s photo (seen above) to illustrate why we measure change in this manner.  Counting the leaves on the branch in her photo, there are five orange leaves and about 20 green ones.  So, the % change on the branch is 20%.  However, for the forest, it’s 0 – 15% changed, as while some change is showing, it’s inconsequential to the color change in the entire forest.  The same is true when we get to the end of change for a given forest.  If 90 out of 100% of the leaves have fully turned color, then the forest is said to be in the range of 75 – 100%.  And, once most of the trees have dropped their leaves or fully lost color, we call it “Past Peak.”

Given that primer, here’s the full Weather Channel scale:

• 0 – 15% (Little to no change of color, some lime, mostly green)
• 15 – 30% (slight change of color, lots of lime color, some yellow)
• 30 – 50% (approaching half the foliage is showing color)
• 50 – 75% (approaching peak, lots of color, still some lime)
• 75 – 100% (at peak)
• Past Peak (most leaves have lost color or been blown away, though some pockets of color may exist)

The scale indicates the % of change, but it doesn’t help knowing when you should plan to be in a certain area.  Lots of factors can affect color change.  Look back at our previous blogs and you’ll see cases where we were reporting 30 – 50% and within a few days it was peaking.  This is particularly so at higher elevations, where color can change suddenly.  If we write “Go Now,”  we don’t guarantee how long the color will last.  It could be gone the next day.  “Go Now” means delay your trip not later than the end of that week.  Even then, there are no guarantees.  A wind storm can knock leaves from trees (as we photographed last year) in a matter of minutes.

What we have noticed fairly consistently through the years is that leaves that have not yet changed color aren’t usually blown from trees and even some with a little color change in them will hang on through a storm.  Though, fully turned leaves are most vulnerable to wind storms, particularly at higher elevations.

75 – 100% – Urban Forests - Northern California’s urban forests have been peaking this past week with majestic London planetree and ancient Chinese pistache spreading colored branches across Land Park in Sacramento.  The San Francisco Bay Area is dressed with red, yellow, gold and orange in time for Thanksgiving Day reunions.  Though holiday lights will soon overtake this natural show in the northstate, Southern California has more color to show through December.

75-100% – Urban Forests - Urban areas throughout California are glowing colorfully in time for Thanksgiving Day.  Mild weather has contributed to keeping leaves and berries on the trees.  The colorful show has now descended among exotic trees to below 1,000 ft in elevation with Chinese pistache showing flame red, crabapples yellow to orange-red, Sycamores varying from chartreuse to burnt sienna, and plums radiating burgundy red.  Look for the color to continue through Thanksgiving week in the Sierra Foothills, Sacramento, Fresno and San Francisco Bay Area.

Friends of the Urban Forest will be planting 45 flowering cherry trees in San Francisco’s Japan Town on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  To participate in the volunteer effort, contact Sally Bentz at 415-268-0783 or sally@fuf.net.  Instruction on proper tree planting will occur at 9 a.m.

This weekend will bring the first major “winter” storm to California and although fall doesn’t end for another month (until December 21), the turn in temperatures and weather will make Thanksgiving Day week seem in the minds of many Californians, to mark the end of autumn.

This coming winter storm does not mean that incredible fall scenery will no longer be seen across the Golden State.  Just click on Michael Frye’s blog (to the left) and view his impressive photograph of black oak leaves peaking through snow, to see what I mean.  Autumn at this time of year requires special vision.  Give up looking for those bold splashes of red, orange and yellow against deep blue skies and find satisfaction instead in the subtle beauty to be found in the more muted colors of dying leaves reflected upon wet city streets, as that’s where the show has moved.

It’s past peak above 2,000′, but below that the color is still peaking, especially in California’s diverse urban forests… Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area and in exotic pockets of urban Southern California.

So, enjoy the weekend storms and do not be discouraged by the elements.  There is wonder to be found where you least expect it.

DogTrekker, the email newsletter for northern Californians who seek advice on traveling with their dogs, recommends November as an ideal month for autumn walks with Rover.  Today’s edition recommends trails in the East Bay, South Bay, along the newly completed Sacramento River Trail in Redding, along the South Yuba Independence Trail, and in Marin County at Fort Baker on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge.  We’ve seen fall color in each of those areas, but even if it isn’t showing when you’re walking your dog, it’s a good day anyway, because you’ve got your best friend with you!

To receive DogTrekker, CLICK HERE.

Ben Carlson of San Francisco’s Friends of the Urban Forest reports that, “Even though fall is often warmer than summer in San Francisco, the light green fan-shaped leaves of the Gingko biloba (also known as the Maindenhair tree) are starting to turn gold. The leaves will start to drop in November, so make sure you see their beautiful golden color before then. There is a fine row of Gingkos on 25th Avenue in the Richmond District between Lincoln and Fulton.”

To receive the Friends of the Urban Forest free newsletter, email brian@fuf.net.