John Poimiroo – Page 2 – California Fall Color

The Next Chapter

On January 1, California Fall Color begins its next chapter. Editing and publishing the blog from then forward will be Lara Kaylor.

Kaylor serves as Director of Content, Communications & PR at Mammoth Lakes Tourism, in addition to being a freelance writer whose work has been published in multiple outlets, including: Backpacker, SKI, Bicycling, Sierra Heritage and Snowshoe magazines. Recently, her reflections appeared in a guest post on California Fall Color. Though, she has closely followed this site, for several years.

Lara earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature at the University of California, Berkeley and brings journalistic talents to the site. She was a news reporter for more than a decade for these Sierra Nevada news outlets: the Mammoth Times, Sierra Wave and The Sheet.

She is a true outdoorswoman who loves exploring the outdoors in many forms with hiking, camping and cycling being her favorites.

When she’s not outside you’ll find Lara curled up with a good book and a latte, in the kitchen trying a new baking recipe or being a mom who loves sharing her passion for the outdoors with her young family.

Beginning next year Lara becomes California Fall Color’s second editor and publisher.

December 21, 2022 /2 Comments/by John Poimiroo

See You Next Autumn, Dude

Today is the last day of Autumn. Winter arrives tomorrow, but we could not leave without one last look at what made this fall memorable.

California (0 – 14,505′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

December 20, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, Northern Sierra

Last Vestiges

In search of snowy fishing holes, Davis color spotter Philip Reedy and John, a fishing companion, drove along Highway 32 from Chico to Deer Creek. They returned through the Forks of Butte Creek Recreation Area.

There, they found last vestiges of autumn color. Trees were bare and leaves spent. Fall color littered the forest floor as decaying detritus. Orange-brown maple and blackened alder leaves provided morbid contrast to vibrant mosses that flocked a rocky face above the creek.

For his fortitude, Reedy scored the last First Report of autumn at the Forks of Butte Creek Recreation Area, an area not previously reported here. He also posted the final fall color report of Autumn, 2022.

Forks of Butte Creek Recreation Area (2,000′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

December 19, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, North Coast

Going, Going …

Peaking fungi are all that’s left of fall color at Sue-meg State Park in Humboldt County. Regardless, color spotter Michelle Pontoni wrote, “This is the perfect time to enjoy the best of California’s north coast.

She says that in early December Humboldt County days are often cloudless, mild and the landscape deserted, making the last days of autumn an ideal time to visit. We recommend watching weather forecasts closely and picking an open window of clear weather along the north coast for this experience.

If you’re unfamiliar with the state park, Sue-meg is the new/old name of what used to be Patrick Point SP. The local Yurok people had always called the location that, but the park got named Patrick Point – the local name – when it was brought into the state park system in the 1930s.

A Yurok village was recreated there in the 1990s and named “Sumêg” to honor the ancient name associated with the site. Recent efforts to honor traditional names included returning Sue-meg as the description to this location.

Sue-meg SP is a few miles north of Trinidad and south of Prairie Creek Redwoods SP and Redwoods NP, so there’s lots to see in the area, if not much fall color, which is now … gone.

Sue-meg SP, Trinidad (174′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.

December 15, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Central Valley, Fall Color Report

Chasing Water

The combination of drought and water not being released by water agencies, has migratory birds chasing water.

They found it at the the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge near Los Banos yesterday, and Mark Harding found them.

Since this article was first posted, Harding reports that the Sacramento and Colusa NWRs are again wet, and snow and Ross’ geese, heron, wigeon, pintail and mallard ducks are in residence.

Late autumn color is dressing oak, cottonwood and willow. It’s peak in California’s Central Valley.

Mallards, Colusa NWR (12/7/22) Mark Harding

Snow goose, Colusa NWR (12/7/22) Mark Harding

Black-crowned night heron, Colusa NWR (12/7/22) Mark Harding

Pintail ducks, Colusa NWR (12/7/22) Mark Harding

Ross's and snow geese, Colusa NWR (12/7/22) Mark Harding

San Luis NWR, Los Banos (115′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!

December 9, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Statewide, Video

Special Moments

Bill McFall shares special moments he photographed this autumn.

December 9, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Fall Color Report, First Report, Out of State

Texas Peaks

The internet has been abuzz with reports of an unexpected December display of peak fall color in north and central Texas.

The Texas A&M Forest Service had predicted fall colors to be muted this year, due to drought. Though, a wet August is said to have given new vibrance to Texas’ show.

Photographs on the Web show dark red, carnelian, orange and gold trees. Many species are contributing to the display, including such Texas natives as American smoketree, bigtooth maple, Graves oak, Huisache, Possumhaw, Prairie sumac, Texas redbud, Texas red oak and white ash.

To see what they’re reporting in Dallas, CLICK HERE.

December 7, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Central Valley, Foliage

Tree City USA

Among its claims to fame, Davis has been named a “Tree City, USA”.

This distinction is awarded by the National Arbor Day Foundation to municipalities that:

Have a tree board or department,
Have established a community ordnance for tree care,
Have a forestry program that invests at least $2 million annually, and that
Observe Arbor Day.

Other California cities so designated, include:

On a morning walk through Davis, local color spotter Philip Reedy captured images that show why his town is deserving of the honor. To see how Davis informs its residents what trees to plant, CLICK HERE.

Davis (12/4/22) Philip Reedy

December 4, 2022 by John Poimiroo

Foliage

Beauty Berries

Naturalist Sandy Steinman and outdoor photographer Philip Reedy just know what gifts to give during December … beauty berries.

In Sandy’s case, his gift included images of American Beautyberry (Callicarpus americana) and in Philip’s the Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia). Each plant unwraps vibrant color near the end of autumn.

Beautyberry is native to the southeast U.S., while Toyon is a California native. Beautyberry does best in moist thickets and woods, whereas Toyon thrives in California’s dry climate.

Crushed beautyberry leaves have been used as a folk remedy to prevent mosquito bites and the deep purple berries can be made into an edible jelly. While, Toyon became so popular as a table decoration in the 1920s that Los Angeles passed an ordinance prohibiting collecting it on public land and it got the nickname California holly.