http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2018-01-02 10:09:142018-01-02 10:12:17Parade of Roses and Autumn
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (12/26/17) Frank McDonough
LA County Arboretum (12/26/17) Frank McDonough
Gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum (12/26/17) Frank McDonough
Frank McDonough’s photograph of tiles at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden reminds us of the festive color to explode on New Year Eve and makes us look forward to 2018 and the end of 2017.
This past year was filled with tragedy for many. Wildfires, hurricanes, floods and heartache delivered by the worst side of humanity made it so.
Even on the fall color front, the show was disappointing, but not so the photographs taken by those tracking fall color across California.
Frank’s images of everlasting gingko biloba at the LA County Arboretum provide hope for a new year of everlasting color, joy and good things.
Happy New Year.
LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden – Peak to Past Peak – You Almost Missed It.
Gingko, LA County Arboretum (12/26/17) Frank McDonough
Bamboo, LA County Arboretum (12/26/17) Frank McDonough
Gingko, LA County Arboretum (12/26/17) Frank McDonough
LA County Arboretum (12/26/17) Frank McDonough
Gingko, LA County Arboretum (12/26/17) Frank McDonough
LA County Arboretum (12/26/17) Frank McDonough
Gingko, LA County Arboretum (12/26/17) Frank McDonough
LA County Arboretum (12/26/17) Frank McDonough
To the north near Durham, Ferruginous hawks are in search of squirrels out gathering nuts among the orchards and the last spots of fall color (berries still clinging to Dogwood branches) are seen in these images captured by Robert Kermen.
Oakland color spotter Darrell Sano, who holds the distinction of being the first and last to post on this site in 2017, sent these closing shots of peak color seen in at Mountain View Cemetery in the Oakland Hills.
Darrell writes that, “The balmy weather we’ve been experiencing around the bay area led to many people enjoying the afternoon scenery–walking, jogging, groups of people having conversations, dogs happily being walked, and of course families paying respects to loved ones. It’s an extremely serene and introspective place. Walking the hills always makes me think about time, and the passage of it. No better appropriate place to be in the last weekend of the year. And the colors persist into 2018!”
Oakland – Peak to Past Peak – You Almost Missed It.
Aloes and Sticks on Fire, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
Southern California color spotter Frank McDonough sends this postcard of colorful holiday herbage from the LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in Arcadia where fall color (now winter color, I suppose) is lighting up the season.
Though succulents are not fall color, their forms make for fascinating photographs.
LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Arcadia – Peak to Past Peak – You Almost Missed It.
Wild California grape, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
Nandina and Crepe myrtle, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
Aloe, S. African Section, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
Chinese pistache, Bauer Lawn, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
Crepe myrtle’s last color, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
Nuxia tree, Bauer Lawn, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
Bauer Lawn, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
California sycamore, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
Old soul aloe, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
Collumner euphorbia, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
Aeonium, Canary Island Section, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
Orchids, Tropical greenhouse walk, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/23/17) Frank McDonough
Hahamonga Watershed Park, Pasadena (12/21/17) Naresh Satyan
It’s now official. California’s fall color has now appeared in three seasons in 2017: summer, autumn and winter.
Color spotter Naresh Satyan did not let the first day of winter deter him from sending this shot of peak color seen this morning among willows in Pasadena’s Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena, where river bed is still dressed in various stages of fall, er, um, well winter color.
He reports, “Unfortunately wind has been stripping leaves fairly quickly, but it still looks like Fall down here!”
Pasadena – Peak to Past Peak – You Almost Missed It.
Tree and multi-stem Aloes, LA County Arboretum (12/19/17) Frank McDonough
Aloe is known to many as the miracle lotion found in hand and body creams to soften and repair skin, but to horticulturists, its a genus of flowering succulent that blossoms at the end of autumn.
There are 500 species of aloe. True aloe (Aloe vera) is the most well-known of them, though there’s also: French, bitter, flat-flowered, tilt-headed, soap and Zimbabwe among the many types of tree and brushy aloes. The name of the last of these gives you an idea from where they originated… from Africa to Greece along the Mediterranean Sea.
Reporting from the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Frank McDonough says the aloe there are primed to peak during Christmas week, though they’re already colorful (the Arboretum will be closed on Christmas Day).
Aloe blooms are yellow, orange, pink and red with their large reservoir-like leaves storing water captured in winter for drier summer months.
Gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum (12/16/17) Diana McDonough
Gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum (12/16/17) Diana McDonough
Gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum (12/16/17) Diana McDonough
Gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum (12/16/17) Diana McDonough
Queen Anne Cottage, LA County Arboretum (12/16/17) Diana McDonough
Elsewhere at the LA County Arboretum, colored lights provided holiday cheer with trees changing color this past Saturday evening. Such special events for nighttime photography are noted on the arboretum’s calendar. Several gardens hold similar events during the holidays, including Descanso Gardens.
A curtain of gingko leaves, LA County Arboretum (12/19/17) Frank McDonough
Gingko biloba persist in their long-lasting fall display at the LA County Arboretum with curtains of their bright yellow leaves heavily draped from branches. Elsewhere, liquidambar and pomegranates are still carrying color right to the last day of autumn (Dec. 20).
LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens – Peak to Past Peak – You Almost Missed It.
Snowball viburnum, backgrounded by showy gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum (12/19/17) Frank McDonough
Pomegranate at entrance, LA County Arboretum (12/19/17) Frank McDonough
Chinese pistache, Bauer Lawn, LA County Arboretum (12/19/17) Frank McDonough
Gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum (12/19/17) Frank McDonough
Gingkos and steles, LA County Arboretum (12/19/17) Frank McDonough
Liquidambar attracting attention, LA County Arboretum (12/19/17) Frank McDonough
Gingko and Liquidambar, Crescent Garden, LA County Arboretum (12/19/17) Frank McDonough
A curtain of gingko leaves, LA County Arboretum (12/19/17) Frank McDonough
Wildfire smoke at dusk, LA County Arboretum (12/15/17) Frank McDonough
A wildfire sunset, Bauer Lawn, LA County Arboretum (12/15/17) Frank McDonough
When smoke from wildfires colors the western horizon, as is happening – tragically – in Ventura County, sunsets intensify and glow in ways both foreboding and inspiring.
Yesterday, color spotter Frank McDonough lingered ’til after dusk at the LA County Arboretum in Arcadia to capture these impressions of such fire in the sky.
During daytime, the smoke from Southern California’s wildfires is hardly noticeable, as California’s bluer than blue sky is now only lightly brushed with haze. At the Arboretum, autumn sunlight warms scenes of people strolling through the gardens. Fall color continues at the LA County Arboretum, which holds title as one of California’s last locations to see peaking fall color.
LA County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens – Peak to Past Peak – You Almost Missed It.
Bauer Lawn, LA County Arboretum (12/15/17) Frank McDonough
Path near Bauer Lawn, LA County Arboretum (12/15/17) Frank McDonough
Kallam Garden, Bauer Lawn, LA County Arboretum (12/15/17) Frank McDonough
Tropical Forest entrance, Bauer Lawn, LA County Arboretum (12/15/17) Frank McDonough
Amaranthus, Crescent Garden, Bauer Lawn, LA County Arboretum (12/15/17) Frank McDonough
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2017-12-16 11:56:092017-12-16 12:04:56Fire in the Sky
Gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/9/17) Frank McDonough
Fall color continues to peak at points throughout Los Angeles County, despite smoke and fire that has ravaged Southern California’s coastal mountains.
Frank McDonough reminds us of the beauty and blue skies being seen in Arcadia at the LA County Arboretum and Gardens, noting that while many trees are now past peak, others are still short of peak.
LA County – Peak to Past Peak – You Almost Missed It.
Gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/9/17) Frank McDonough
Gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/9/17) Frank McDonough
Nandina domestica, red maple; LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/9/17) Frank McDonough
Gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/9/17) Frank McDonough
Trichocereus cactus, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/9/17) Frank McDonough
Gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/9/17) Frank McDonough
Acacia, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/9/17) Frank McDonough
Red oak, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/9/17) Frank McDonough
Chinese tallow, Siberian elm, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/9/17) Frank McDonough
Crepe myrtle, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (12/9/17) Frank McDonough
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2017-12-11 12:42:462017-12-12 17:07:36LA County Fall Color Survives
Viburnum, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens (11/28/17) Frank McDonough
Cotoneaster carry late autumn berries, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens (11/28/17) Frank McDonough
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in Arcadia owns December.
Over recent years, California Fall Color has consistently received reports and photographs of autumn foliage from this arboretum between mid November and mid December, but it is early December when fall color there is most beautiful.
That is largely consistent among coastal arboretums and botanic gardens, including the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, Descanso Gardens, Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Francisco Botanical Garden, Balboa Park Botanical Garden and Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. Though, not all feature as broad a range of varieties with fall color.
At the LA County Arboretum, Frank McDonough, its Botanical Information Specialist and one of our perennial color spotters, will be leading a Fall Foliage Walking Tour of the LA County Arboretum on Saturday, Dec. 2. He worries, however, that this year’s fall color is “way late.” Warm temperatures and dry skies have kept the color from developing, as seen in his photos of cotoneaster and crepe myrtle.
Crepe myrtle show patchy color, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens (11/28/17) Frank McDonough
Frank, who has recorded the beauty of autumn there for years, will be speaking about what triggers the change among the broad mix of foliage to be enjoyed at the LA County Arboretum, including: gingko biloba, fishtail gingko, Eastern white oak, horse chestnut, Japanese maple, Japanese lacquer trees, Daimyo oak, crepe myrtle, sweet gum (liquidambar), sour gum, red maple, Eastern redbud, American elm, Chinese tallow, Chinese parasol trees, Chinese pistache, birch, pomegranate, cotoneaster, California fan palm, tulip trees, sticks on fire, pin oak, Chinaberry, Jerusalem thorn, blaze maple, horned maple, California wild grape, flame leaf sumac and California fan palms.
So, as December arrives, peak color does as well, though this autumn it is late in appearing at the LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in Arcadia.
LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Arcadia – Patchy
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2017-11-29 12:54:192017-11-29 14:17:56LA County Owns December
Pink Floss-Silk Tree, Southern California (10/11/17) Kathy Jonokuchi
Pink Floss-Silk Tree, Southern California (10/11/17) Kathy Jonokuchi
Color spotter Kathy Jonokuchi shared these images on our Facebook page (@CalifFallColor) of the Pink Floss-Silk tree, an exotic that blooms in mid autumn.
It is another aspect of fall color that is seen only in California and other Mediterranean climates, during autumn.
Bigleaf maple, Vincent Gulch (10/1/17) Naresh Satyan
Pasadenan Naresh Satyan describes the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California as not truly a fall color hotspot, though like all of California’s mountain ranges, there are exceptional spots of bright color.
Bigleaf maple, San Gabriel National Monument (10/1/17) Naresh Satyan
Bigleaf maple in the chapparal, San Gabriel National Monument (10/1/17) Naresh Satyan
Bigleaf maple, San Gabriel National Monument (10/1/17) Naresh Satyan
Poison oak, San Gabriel National Monument (10/1/17) Naresh Satyan
Poison oak, San Gabriel National Monument (10/1/17) Naresh Satyan
He reports that the few bigleaf maple are at or near peak color are found between 4000’ and 6000′.
The Sheep Mountain Wilderness in San Gabriel National Monument along the East Fork of the San Gabriel River and its tributaries provides the best color.
“It is a remote area with very few trails, but the maples are accessible along the Mine Gulch trail from Vincent Gap (Vincent Gulch Divide) on the Angeles Crest Highway. There is plenty of poison oak this year in very beautiful shades of pink and red, at peak now at elevations near 5000′ and moving down,” Naresh states.
As we’ve declared previously, look but don’t touch!
Sheep Mountain Wilderness, San Gabriel National Monument (4,000-6,000’) – Near Peak to Peak 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 Poimiroo2017-10-03 05:33:572017-10-03 06:14:12Spotting Color: Angeles National Forest
