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East/West Redbud Debate

Western redbud, cercis occidentalis (11/10/17) Robert Kermen

Eastern redbud, cercis canadensis (11/7/17) John Poimiroo

When it comes to redbud, it’s debatable as to which is prettiest in autumn… East or West.

The eastern variety, cercis canadensis, displays bright gold and green heart-shaped leaves.

Whereas, western redbud, cercis occidentalis, display orange, red, gold and lime heart-shaped leaves.

Both are equally stunning.

Redbud is often overlooked by color spotters who give up looking for great fall color as soon as the forests of aspen have turned, but not Robert Kermen or me.

Robert found western redbud growing along Big Chico Creek in Chico’s Bidwell Park.

Cercis occidentalis are native to the Sierra and North Coast foothills. Native California indians used their barks for basket weaving and as a red dye. In springtime, their showy pink and magenta blossoms grow in clusters all over redbud shrubs that garnish foothill river canyons.

Western redbud, cercis occidentalis (11/10/17) Robert Kermen

Western redbud, cercis occidentalis (11/10/17) Robert Kermen

I have the pleasure of enjoying an Eastern redbud all year long. It grows in my side yard (El Dorado Hills) and provides an inspiring show when autumn light backlights the leaves in kelly green and yellow.

Eastern redbud are a popular landscape and street tree, appreciated for their shape, shade and autumn color (best from late October to early November).

Their heart-shaped leaves flutter in a soft autumn breeze, as if they’re beating.

OK, there’s no debate. East or West, who couldn’t love redbud with all they have to show?

Cercis Occidentalis Range – Wikipedia

Redbud – Peak (75-100%) – Their range forms an upside down fish hook, leading from the SF Bay Area north through wine country and the Redwood Highway, then bending east through Trinity County to the northern Sierra foothills, then south to the Southern Sierra. GO NOW!

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Grass Valley Glows

Black oak, Grass Valley (11/8/17) Robert Kermen

Bigleaf maple, Grass Valley (11/8/17) Robert Kermen

Red maple, Grass Valley (11/8/17) Robert Kermen

Black oak, bigleaf maple, red maple and gingko biloba were at peak today in Grass Valley, color spotter Robert Kermen reports, a sure sign that the Gold Country is a Peak of the Week destination for this weekend.

Grass Valley (2,411′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

Gingko biloba, Grass Valley (11/8/17) Robert Kermen

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American River Reflections

Sycamore, American River, Lotus (10/21/17) Hari Reddy

In autumn, the American River is placid, unlike the surging stream it is in late spring and early summer. Sycamore, Frémont cottonwood and black oak cast golden, orange, yellow and lime reflections across its slow moving waters.

Lotus, near where gold was discovered in Coloma in 1848, is a popular put-in spot for rafters and kayakers, making the American the most popular whitewater rafting destination in California. Though in autumn, paddling is as quiet as the river.

American River, Lotus (722′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

El Dorado Hills (768′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW! – Exotic Chinese pistache, sycamore, flowering plum and pears and native blue oaks planted along El Dorado Hills Blvd. are a mix of burgundy, auburn, crimson, yellow, orange, lime and buff.

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A Riot Along the Bear River

Maple, St. Canice Catholic Church, Nevada City (10/14/17) Robert Kermen

Bear Valley (10/14/17) Robert Kermen

Bear River (10/14/17) Robert Kermen

There’s a riot of color to be seen along the Bear River in Nevada County, Robert Kermen reports. He travels CA-20 and I-80 almost weekly and encounters “multiple color spots along the route.”

Kermen reports that one of his favorite stops is “the headwaters of Bear River which is located on Bowman Lake road just after you pass through Bear Valley headed eastbound on CA-20. This whole area is a riot of color now with bigleaf maple,  dogwood, and a few aspen at peak.”
Nevada City is also looking good with maple providing crimson and yellow highlights.
Nevada City (2,477′) – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Peaking from Nevada City to the headwaters of the Bear River, along CA-20.
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Apple Hill – Ripe for Picking

Apple Hill (10/12/17) John Poimiroo

A detour on my return from Lake Tahoe, yesterday, included a stop at Apple Hill in Camino to take photos and – what else!? – buy an apple pie.

Newtown Rd., Placerville (10/12/17) John Poimiroo

Bigleaf maple (10/12/17) John Poimiroo

My route took me through Pleasant Valley (great wine tasting) down Newtown Rd. toward Placerville, US 50 and Camino.

Newtown is a lovely, winding road canopied by huge black oak and bigleaf maple, that now are speckled with huge bright yellow and lime-colored maple leaves.

At Camino, apples lay rotting between the trees at Boa Vista Orchards, as kids romped through a nearby pumpkin patch.

Similar to the experience at Julian in San Diego County, Apple Hill is more than a place to grow apples.

It is an annual harvest festival that continues from late summer to Christmas, with all kinds of homemade preserves, pies, baked goods, fresh fruit and produce on sale, along with handmade crafts and wine tasting at nearby Sierra Foothill wineries.

At this time of year, Apple Hill is wholesome fun and ripe for picking.

Apple Hill, Camino (3,133′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

Newtown Road, Pleasant Valley – Patchy to Near Peak (10-75%) GO NOW!

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Henness Pass – Ever Heard of It?

Henness Pass Rd. (10/7/17) Bridgett Locken

Henness Pass Rd. (10/7/17) Bridgett Locken

Aspen, Henness Pass Rd. (10/7/17) Bridgett Locken

Henness Pass Rd. (10/7/17) Bridgett Locken

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sure hadn’t. Henness Pass Road travels east/west across the Northern Sierra, south of CA-49, roughly between Camptonville and Downieville, but slightly to the south.

As the lowest pass through the Sierra Nevada, you’d think everyone would drive it, but don’t expect to jump in your sedan for a leisurely Sunday drive, as only high clearance off-road vehicles can operate on it. This is wild country dotted with ranches, wildlife, spots of fall color and not much else.

Bridget and Bruce Locken traveled it on Saturday to score a First Report with these snapshots of the color to be seen in this remote area of California.

Henness Pass (6,920′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!

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Harlequin Color Pops at Jenkinson Lake

Black oak, Jenkinson Lake (10/8/17) Ahnalise Draper

Pacific Dogwood, Jenkinson Lake (10/8/17) Ahnalise Draper

Jenkinson Lake (10/8/17) Ahnalise Draper

Jenkinson Lake (10/8/17) Ahnalise Draper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenkinson Lake near Sly Park in the Gold Country (El Dorado County) gets this week’s pick for Harlequin color.

Ahnalise Draper was on her way to the Hope Valley when she decided to stop at Jenkinson Lake, northeast of Placerville and take an impromptu hike around the lake.

She wrote that the “Scenery did not disappoint. The southeast side of the lake is especially beautiful” though is on point by pointing out that “in line with the rest of the state, it is a patchy display. All the leaves are close to reaching their peak with the lime leaves of bright aspens and oak spotted with some red, yellow and pink that are ahead of the pack.”

She continued, “The southeast finger of the lake is narrow and the beautiful blues and teal of the water are contrasted by dark greens of pines and pops of bright yellow from the trees spotting the embankment, definitely the best part of the lake’s scenery.”

The varieties that dominate this area are pacific dogwood, black oak and bigleaf maple.

Jenkinson Lake, Sly Park (3,400′) – Patchy

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Exotics Light Up Grass Valley

Exotic maple, Grass Valley (10/1/17) Robert Kermen

Non-native, landscaped maples are lighting up Grass Valley in hues of orange and salmon, Robert Kermen reports.

Fall color creds to whoever can ID this type of maple. Update: And Evelyn gets the creds, identifying the tree as Acer Rubrum (red maple), common to eastern and central North America.

 

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Poetry Past Peak

Shenandoah Rd., Amador County (11/20/16) Darrell Sano

Shenandoah Rd., Amador County (11/20/16) Darrell Sano

There’s poetry in the progression of peak color. At least, when Darrell Sano describes it.

He traveled to Amador County and its Shenandoah Valley near Plymouth this past weekend to pick up a wine club order from one of its great wineries.

Tip: Put the Sierra Foothills wineries on your next wine tasting excursion, as the wineries of El Dorado and Amador Counties are exceptional and many provide tastings without charge.

Shenandoah Rd., Amador County (11/20/16) Darrell Sano

Shenandoah Rd., Amador County (11/20/16) Darrell Sano

Shenandoah Rd., Amador County (11/20/16) Darrell Sano

Shenandoah Rd., Amador County (11/20/16) Darrell Sano

Shenandoah Rd., Amador County (11/20/16) Darrell Sano

Shenandoah Rd., Amador County (11/20/16) Darrell Sano

Shenandoah Rd., Amador County (11/20/16) Darrell Sano

Shenandoah Rd., Amador County (11/20/16) Darrell Sano

I had discouraged his optimism, stating I thought Darrell’s trip would be fruitless, other than for the wine tasting, as fall color in the Sierra Foothills was mostly past peak.

After seeing it, he agreed.  The Sierra Foothills are past peak, but countered, “like Napa and other wine regions, the leaves are still there, though more rustic, leathery, with an ochre-rust color. But these leaves past peak display texture, character, and perhaps a glimpse of time constantly in motion.

“The rains have now created areas of highly saturated grass, and the green grass against warm leaves is spectacular. Perhaps the vines are past peak, but the rains have created peak grass!”

Good photographers are never disappointed by the weather. They find beauty in it, as did Darrell.

He reported the stormy sky to be “interesting,” providing “a different feel for photography” with “diffused light without the harsh contrasts found on a sunny day.

“It felt very much like a typical fall color day, and I enjoyed the vistas from the various wineries perched on hills on Shenandoah Road. These photos are all from that road, and enjoyed tasting the great wines from this unique region,” he reported.

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Another Great Autumn Sunset

Folsom Lake (11/8/16) John Poimiroo

Blue oak, Folsom Lake (11/8/16) John Poimiroo

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