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.

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.

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.

CLICK HERE to listen to a podcast of KGO radio’s John Hamilton’s discussion with John Poimiroo of California Fall Color.

Listen to KGO-AM810 at 7:05 a.m. today and on Oct. 2 for live fall color reports.  Travel broadcaster John Hamilton will have California Fall Color report blogger John Poimiroo and other color spotters as his guests to report about the fall color season in California.

Gum and Mulberry trees, Lakeport (11/24/09)

Although autumn doesn’t end until December 21, Thanksgiving Day always seems to be the last day of the year in  which Californians are in an autumn state of mind.  After that, a blizzard of holiday sales make falling prices overwhelm falling leaves.

While there’s still lots of color to be enjoyed, most Californians shift their search from looking for fall color to searching for colorful Christmas lights and Christmas trees.

However, just because the holiday season is upon us does not mean that Mother Nature has given up her beautiful show of autumn color.  California’s urban landscape flickers with auburn, orange, crimson and yellow within its parks and along its boulevards.  Because California’s weather has been mostly mild and clear this fall, 2009 will be remembered as one of the best for beautiful and long-lasting displays of fall color.

This is the last planned California Fall Color report of the season.  Our thanks are expressed to the many color spotters across The Golden State who emailed photographs and reports.

Clear Lake, Lakeport (11/24/09)

75-100% — Lake County. Terre Logsdon reports that “While the harvest of pears, walnuts, and wine grapes has ended for the year, large swaths of color throughout the county remain to be enjoyed as the many oak varieties – black, blue, valley, and Oregon – are at 75% of peak and turning a muted gold to vibrant orange against a backdrop of evergreen pines. Sweet gums are a riot of color in the town of Lakeport, at their peak of color ranging from gold to deep burgundy. Flowering mulberries are nearing their peak ranging from canary yellow to bright green.

Dickens Christmas Market, Lakeport (stock photo)

An annual Dickens’ Christmas Market occurs Nov. 28 in Lakeport.  This annual Christmas event transforms Lakeport into an old English village, complete with costume-clad characters, food booths, and entertainment, as well as an all-day Christmas Market from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Lighted parade begins at 6 p.m. and Christmas tree lighting follows at 6:30 p.m. on Main Street. CLICK HERE for more about this event or call (707) 263-5092.

75-100% — Onyx. Color spotter Danna Stroud of Mammoth Lakes reports that lovely gold colors clusters of trees in the Southern Sierra along CA-178 west of CA-14 and east of Lake Isabella.  Danna oversees the Mammoth Lakes Visitors Bureau which will soon open one of the three new California Welcome Centers recently approved for designation by the California Travel & Tourism Commission.  The new Welcome Centers are located in Mammoth Lakes, El Dorado Hills and Vista and should open in early 2010.  When these state-sanctioned visitor information centers open, the number of California Welcome Centers will increase to 17.  California Welcome Centers bring together visitor information from across California and are great places to get maps and guidance on visiting California.

75-100% — San Francisco Bay Area. Color is at or past peak around San Francisco, providing lots of nostalgic autumn color in the Bay Area for the Thanksgiving Day weekend.  If you’re in The City this weekend, head to Yerba Buena Gardens and Golden Gate Park for the most diverse show of color.  Cindy Hu reports that russet and gold have “been supplanted by LEDs in many corners of The City.  Market Street is adorned with illuminated snowflakes and the palm trees in Union Square have been encircled with white lights.”  She recommends checking out these “bright spots:” Embarcadero Center, Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, Union Square, Huntington Park, Castro and 18th Streets, Union Street, Golden Gate Park, The Presidio and Fisherman’s Wharf.  CLICK HERE for more details.

Beautiful color may also be found down the Peninsula in Burlingame, Menlo-Atherton, Palo Alto and Los Altos; in the East Bay communities of Danville, Moraga and Walnut Creek; and in the north bay cities of San Rafael and Novato.

75-100% — Sacramento. This Central Valley city is known as being second only to Paris in the number of trees, per capita.  Sacramento has so many trees that special rules govern when and where you can park, so that leaves can be cleared during autumn.  The best displays of fall color are found downtown, surrounding the State Capitol, in the Fabulous Forties (avenues numbered in the 40s) and surrounding Land Park, south of US 50 and downtown.

Past Peak — Plumas County. Color spotter Suzi Brakken reports that the Plumas and Lassen National Forest offices are now selling Christmas tree cutting permits for $10.  All you need is a saw, dry boots and snow clothes. Keep in mind that snow is plentiful in the higher elevations, especially where the favorite Silvertips are found. The permits for Plumas National Forest are also available at many local businesses, including at the Plumas County Visitors Center at the Quincy airport, a half mile west of Quincy on CA-70.  Maps of approved cutting areas come with permits, which are on sale through Dec. 24.

On the Thanksgiving weekend, holiday light parades will be held in Chester and Taylorsville, and merchant open houses with refreshments and tree-lightings will be held in small towns throughout Plumas County this weekend and next. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Past Peak — Gold Country. Color has now descended below 1,000′ in the gold country with little left to change among the oaks and maples.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  See you next fall!