Cottonwood Springs Oasis, Joshua Tree NP (11/23/14) Eric Trumbauer
Color spotter Eric Trumbauer posted this photo of Cottonwood Springs Oasis in Joshua Tree National Park on our FB page with the Monty Pythonesque comment, “something a bit different…” Eric wins accolades for posting this first-ever shot of fall color at Joshua Tree NP in California’s Mojave Desert.
Joshua Tree National Park (Peak 75-100%) – Cottonwood are peaking at Cottonwood Springs Oasis. GO NOW!
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-24 17:09:472014-11-24 17:09:47Peak of the Week: Joshua Tree National Park
Sentinel Rock, Yosemite NP (11/23/14) Susan Taylor
Cook’s Meadow (11/23/14) Susan Taylor
Susan Taylor writes on our FB page that she had hoped for a dusting of snow on Yosemite Valley when she visited, yesterday. We’re glad she found a dusting of fall leaves, instead.
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-24 16:56:482014-11-25 09:35:24Yosemite Valley Short of Snow, Long on Color
Lake Siskiyou and Mt. Shasta (11/23/14) Cory Poole
Color spotter Cory Poole reports that there’s still a lot of color to be seen around the edge of Lake Shasta, though because the lake level has dropped so significantly, it isn’t reflected in the lake. However, travel north to see Mount Shasta and fall trees reflected in the still waters of Lake Siskiyou.
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-24 08:01:052014-11-24 08:01:05Reflections of Fall Color at Lake Siskiyou
Alexander Valley (Peak 75-100%) – Color spotters Larry and Debbie Trettin posted on our Facebook page today that each November, they make a point of driving Geysers Rd, north of Healdsburg, to see the color before it disappears. As the skies were clearing today, they got this shot of the Alexander Valley freshly washed by rainfall and kissed by sunlight.GO NOW!
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-22 23:09:382014-11-22 23:09:38Sunlight Kisses the Alexander Valley
Brandy Creek Falls, Whiskeytown NRA 11/18/14) Jack Kirchert
Color spotters from across the Shasta Cascade were reporting enduring spots of fall color until today. Then, a series of rain storms began passing through northern California. They have dampened and spotted the remaining color, pushing most areas of northeast California past peak.
Butte County (Peak to Past Peak) – When last reported, walnut groves along Hwy 99 were nearing peak. though the last of peak color on the CSU Chico campus, in Bidwell Park, downtown Chico and Paradise is being rained upon and is moving past peak. GO NOW!
Tehama County (Past Peak) – The Sacramento River, Red Bluff and Cottonwood have moved significantly to past peak this week with storms wetting remaining color. What little remains will probably be gone by this weekend. YOU MISSED IT.
Landscape tree, Anderson (11/18/14) Brittany Pozek
Shasta County (Past Peak) – The last of the fall color in Shasta County flared this past week at Brandy Creek Fall in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, west of Redding, though as Jack Kirchert’s photo shows, it’s now well past peak. Landscape color is still developing in Anderson. YOU MISSED IT.
Trinity County (Past Peak) – Weaverville was the center of attention this week for Trinity County fall color spotters, with the Gold Rush era town framed by autumn color. YOU MISSED IT.
Modoc County (Peak to Past Peak) – Color has descended throughout the Modoc National Forest to its lowest elevations. GO NOW!
Siskiyou County (Past Peak) – Native foliage throughout Siskiyou County is now past peak, though color is reported at the Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens where exotic Japanese Maples, Eastern Redbud and Pacific Dogwood are reported to be still showing red, yellow and rose. YOU MISSED IT.
Plumas County (Past Peak) – The show is finally over in Plumas County, though a few spots of color are seen near Quincy and down the Feather River canyon. YOU MISSED IT.
Plumas County (11/18/14) Mike Nellor
Lassen County (Past Peak) – Peak color has gone though there’s a lovely mix of yellow and red color and bare branches still to be seen off Hwy 44E. YOU MISSED IT.
Until this past weekend, fall color in the San Bernardino Mountains has survived a lack of Santa Anas, though winds are predicted to begin rising this week. Nicholas and Alena Barnhart toured the SB Mountains’ major fall color viewing locations: Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Grass Valley Lake, Lake Gregory and Silverwood Lake to bring back this update.
Silverwood Lake (11/16/14) Alena Barnhart
Big Bear (11/16/14) Nicholas Barnhart
Big Bear (11/16/14) Alena Barnhart
Silverwood Lake (11/16/14) Nicholas Barnhart
Grass Valley Lake (11/16/14) Nicholas Barnhart
Grass Valley Lake (11/16/14) Nicholas Barnhart
Lake Gregory (11/16/14) Nicholas Barnhart
Lake Gregory (11/16/14) Nicholas Barnhart
San Bernardino Mountains (Peak to Past Peak) – Nick reports, “Silverwood Lake is one of the SB Mountains largest lakes, located on the backside of the mountains heading towards the desert (Apple Valley/Victorville). So, most people miss it when they head up to Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear and even fewer photographers spend time there. It has a Mountain/Desert look to it, and offers Fishing/Boating, Camping, Hiking, Bicycling, Waterskiing, and has places around to eat.
“Since it’s the lowest Lake in the mountains, Silverwood Lake usually stays warmer/drier longer-lasting fall color than the other SB Mountain lakes.” Silverwood Lake was peaking this past weekend though, like other SB Mountain fall color spots, is susceptible to wind.
Nick confirms that autumn is “winding down” at the SB Mountains’ other lakes: Big Bear, Arrowhead, Grass Valley (not to be confused with Northern California’s Grass Valley) and Gregory, though spots of fall color remain. and the sunsets… well, they’re Southern California worthy. GO NOW!
US Post Office, Valyermo (11/16/14) Frank McDonough
Duck Pond, Valyermo (11/16/14) Frank McDonough
Abbey of St. Andrews, Valyermo (11/16/14) Frank McDonough
Cottonwood, Valyermo (11/16/14) Frank McDonough
Valyermo (Peak 75-100%) – Usually, we find Frank McDonough reporting from the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, but this past weekend he traveled to Valyermo, a tiny community in the San Gabriel mountains. He writes, “I was amazed at the intensity of the Fall color. It’s easily 70-80% there.”
Valyermo has not been reported previously on California Fall Color. Kudos to Frank who joins only two other color spotters, this autumn, who provided reports and photos of areas not previously seen on CaliforniaFallColor.com.
Frank notes that the Valyermo area’s location on the east slope of the San Gabriel Mountains is “spared the coastal influence that could make it too mild for good color change, plus the days are sunny and the nights are quite cold for an extended period of time compared to Southern California’s coastal areas.” Of note there is the Abbey of St. Andrews and the “iconic Valyermo post office.” GO NOW!
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-17 14:51:302014-11-19 22:30:04Peak of the Week: Valyermo
Santa Cruz (Peak 75-100%) – Color spotter Anson Davalos was “soaking up the nice waves and weather” this past weekend in Santa Cruz, while noting that landscaped trees are nearly past peak there, with Chinese pistache, sweet gum, pepper and autumn blaze maple providing hot spots of orange-red, yellow, and auburn. GO NOW!
Color spotter Cory Poole was out and about the Upper Sacramento River, finding color mostly past peak, though he took this amazing nighttime exposure of fall color and a swirling universe at the confluence of Castle Creek and the Upper Sacramento River.
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-17 11:30:282014-11-17 11:30:28Upper Sacramento River Swirls Past Peak
A weathered fence dressed in lichens (11/15/14) Sandy Steinman
Bigleaf Maple (11/15/14) Sandy Steinman
Beyond the vineyards, “up the hills west of Hwy 29,” Sandy Steinman writes in his blog, the Napa Valley has “quiet twisty roads” that go through the forest. In these hilly residential areas above the valley, there’s lots of fall color to be seen. Below, some vineyards are “showing a lot of color’ while others are past peak.
One of California’s signature fall color trees, the yellow bigleaf maple, provides the predominant color, though also seen are “Spice Bush, Oregon Ash, Willows, Walnut and Oaks. Toyon (often called Christmas berry or California holly) is showing off its bright red berries.” Less colorful but interesting – he notes – are California Buckeye that have lost their leaves, but whose branches are heavy with fruit. Flitting among the trees, Steinman reports, are colorful “Acorn Woodpeckers and Stellar Jays, who were out in number along with Golden-crowned Sparrows, Turkey Vultures and Ravens.”
Often overlooked for their color are silver Lichens which hang down from trees and cover fences with moody foliage.
Napa Valley (Peak 75-100%) – Steinman recommends these roads to see Napa’s backstage fall show: Redwood Road, Mt, Veeder Road and Dry Creek. He writes, they make a nice loop, though not for much longer, as peak is about over. GO NOW!
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2014-11-16 13:59:302014-11-16 13:59:30The Other Napa Valley
Color spotter Cory Poole was out and about the Upper Sacramento River, finding color mostly past peak, though he took this amazing nighttime exposure of fall color and a swirling universe at the confluence of Castle Creek and the Upper Sacramento River.
