Forest Pansies, Fragrant Sumac and Freeman’s Maple Get Goin’
You gotta get goin’ eventually. Now that we’re in November, the showy trees and plants of the LA County Arboretum and Gardens have begun to strut.
Arboretum color spotter Frank McDonough admits it’s still in the low range, but November and December are the LA Arboretum’s time to shine.
Demonstrating the color to come, Freeman’s maple stands as bright red as directional signs near it in the Crescent Garden.
Jeffers red maple, LA County Arboretum (11/3/20) Frank McDonough 
Black Tupelo, View from Turtle Pond, LA County Arboretum (11/3/20) Frank McDonough 
Crepe myrtle, Bauer Lawn, Crepe myrtle, Western Med Section, LA County Arboretum (11/3/20) Frank McDonough 
Crepe myrtle, Western Med Section, LA County Arboretum (11/3/20) Frank McDonough 
Black Tupelo, Meadowbrook Section, LA County Arboretum (11/3/20) Frank McDonough
The garden’s fragrant sumac, Rhus aromatica, near Meyberg Falls are so colorful, they could be mistaken for poison oak, McDonough writes, “though if you were to fall into this imposing shrub, the most that could happen would be sneezing – its pollen is mildly allergenic.
A favorite of mine, due to its heart-shaped leaves and resemblance to redbud is the forest pansy, Cercis canadensis, which is now a confetti of lemon and lime colors in the Meadowbrook section.
All this color can be found at an arboretum or botanical garden near you. Because of its clement, Mediterranean climate, California has the most diverse and colorful arboretums in the nation, from Alta Vista in Vista to the Young Botanic Garden in Kerman.
Where else can you see so broad a selection of peaking deciduous plants in one compact place? And, they’re often minutes from home. And, as Frank’s photographs portray, they are willing subjects for an artist’s imagination in autumn.
- LA County Arboretum and Garden, Arcadia (482′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
