Orange Friday
Palo Alto (11/25/20) Vishal Mishra 
Palo Alto (11/25/20) Vishal Mishra
It’s Orange Friday, the day following Thanksgiving Day when California overcomes tryptophan-induced lethargy and goes outdoors to enjoy fall color before it’s gone.
On the San Francisco Peninsula, tall gingko biloba are littering city streets with gold.
Mountain View (11/2/20) Vishal Mishra 
Palo Alto (11/2/20) Vishal Mishra 
Palo Alto (11/2/20) Vishal Mishra 
Mountain View (11/2/20) Vishal Mishra
Elsewhere in the Bay Area, American beautyberries (Callicarpa americana) provide holiday ornamentation at the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden and fallen leaves are now strewn across Berkeley.
Beautyberries, UC Botanical Garden (11/25/20) Sandy Steinman 
Berkeley (11/25/20) Sandy Steinman
Down south, the place for peak color is the LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in Arcadia. Orange-toned crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia) now dominate and more color is revealed each day to mid December.
Wisteria and grape vines, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonough 
Gladiolus and crepe myrtle LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonough 
Crepe myrtle, Bauer lawn, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonough 
Crepe myrtle, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonough 
Crepe myrtle, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonough 
Crepe myrtle and white birch, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonough 
Pomegranate, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonough
Along the American River, cyclists, skaters and walkers on the 32-mile American River Parkway are enjoying one of the most colorful autumns in memory.
CSU Sacramento (11/25/20) Steve Arita 
CSU Sacramento (11/25/20) Steve Arita 
CSU Sacramento (11/25/20) Steve Arita 
Guy West Bridge, American River (11/25/20) Steve Arita 
American River, Sacramento (11/25/20) Steve Arita 
Guy West Bridge, American River (11/25/20) Steve Arita 
Guy West Bridge, American River (11/25/20) Steve Arita
In the Gold Country, “Maple Lane,” a boulevard of maples leading to the Empire Cottage at Empire Mine SHP is at peak and will remain good through this weekend. So, spend your Orange Friday weekend being filled with the beauty of this lovely and historic place.
Or at old Monterey where gingko biloba, Asian maple and sycamore dress city streets with gold, yellow and chartreuse-colored leaves.
Monterey (11/26/20) Sam Reeves 
Monterey (11/26/20) Sam Reeves 
Monterey (11/26/20) Sam Reeves 
Monterey (11/26/20) Sam Reeves 
Monterey (11/26/20) Sam Reeves 
Monterey (11/26/20) Sam Reeves
But, don’t plan to go swimming in Davis where backyard pools are covered with leaves.
Unless you’re a duck. This pintail drake just enjoyed his morning bath at the Colusa NWR.
Today is just another Orange Friday. It’s a day best spent outdoors enjoying fleeting moments of California Fall Color.
