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Botanical Friday

Japanese maple, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Japanese maple, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Fall color has now descended to see level. See it at the state’s botanical gardens this week.

Erica bauera, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Erica bauera, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Forget-me-not, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Forget-me-not, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Erica glandulosa, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Erica glandulosa, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bay Area naturalist and color spotter Sandy Steinman visited the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley to find it filled with late blooming South African flowers.

One could almost be convinced that they’re still on a southern hemisphere springtime calendar, from their November blooms. Nah.

Beautyberries, callicarpa mollis, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Beautyberries, callicarpa mollis, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

The Botanic garden was also full of irridescent Japanese maples, and our favorite ornaments of the season… Beautyberries.

Japanese maple, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Japanese maple, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Japanese maple, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Japanese maple, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Japanese maple, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

Japanese maple, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/20/16) Sandy Steinman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re going this week, the garden closes at 2 p.m. on Wed. and will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

But then, for fall color shopping pleasure, it reopens the following day, which we call “Orange Friday” (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or should we call it “Botanical Friday,” ’cause it sure ain’t black.

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

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First Report: Sanborn County Park, Santa Cruz Mts.

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/7/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/9/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/7/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/9/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/7/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/9/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/7/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/9/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/7/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/9/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/7/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/9/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/7/16) Leor Pantilat

Bigleaf maple, Sanborn County Park, Saratoga (11/9/16) Leor Pantilat

The Santa Cruz Mountains have lovely pockets of fall color: at Roaring Camp and Big Trees Narrow Gauge RR in Felton, at Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Boulder Creek and along Skyline Drive.

Sanborn County Park (Santa Clara County Parks District) is an oft-overlooked location to spot bucolic color.  It’s found by taking Skyline Blvd./Hwy 35 from Patchen Pass to Saratoga Gap.

Color spotter Leor Pantilat scores a first report for this location and reports that along the way, “You’ll drive through some fantastic sections of yellow and orange bigleaf maples. The bigleafs are the best they have been in years after slightly above normal precipitation last winter (bigleafs like water).”

He opines, “In the preceding drought years a good deal of the leaves fell prematurely before turning. Black oak is also peaking with California hazelnut providing some extra color in the understory. At this location the peak should continue for another week or so… until the next winds blow through.

The park has over 22 miles of trails. Hike of the Week is the Lake Ranch Trail, a shaded, easy hike between Lake Ranch and Black Road.

Sanborn County Park, Santa Cruz Mountains – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

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First Report: Uvas Canyon

Uvas Canyon County Park, Morgan Hill (11/5/16) Tracy Zhou

Uvas Canyon County Park, Morgan Hill (11/5/16) Tracy Zhou

Uvas Canyon, near Morgan Hill in the southern Santa Cruz Mountains, is a cool, refreshing forested getaway for residents of Silicon Valley (Santa Clara Valley).

It is a Santa Clara County Park with 7.2 miles of hiking trails including a one-mile waterfall loop that travels along Swanson Creek past several waterfalls and cascades.

At peak, bigleaf maple provide bright yellow contrast to emerald mosses that grow upon boulders in the creek.

Color spotter Tracy Zhou visited on Saturday, to find the maples nearly past peak, though still colorful.

The forest trail is carpeted with buff-colored spent leaves.

Uvas Canyon County Park, Morgan Hill – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!

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Uvas Canyon County Park, Morgan Hill (11/5/16) Tracy Zhou

Uvas Canyon County Park, Morgan Hill (11/5/16) Tracy Zhou

Uvas Canyon County Park, Morgan Hill (11/5/16) Tracy Zhou

Uvas Canyon County Park, Morgan Hill (11/5/16) Tracy Zhou

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Catching Up: Virginia Lakes, Santa Rosa, Piedmont

Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano

Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano

Holiday weekends always seem to delay posting observations.  That’s the case with these reports, submitted with apologies for their maturity.

Virginia Lakes Rd. (9/7/16) Carolyn Webb

Virginia Lakes Rd. (9/7/16) Carolyn Webb

Quaking Aspen and Rabbitbrush, Virginia Lakes Rd. (8/27/16) Carolyn Webb

Quaking Aspen and Rabbitbrush, Virginia Lakes Rd. (8/27/16) Carolyn Webb

Carolyn Webb reported from the Virginia Lakes Resort last week that color has been appearing increasingly along the Virginia Lakes Rd.

Above is a photo received on 9/8/17 to compare how the color has developed in the past 12 days. Since she took the original shot of quaking aspen (at left), more yellow has emerged and the rabbitbrush remain at full peak bloom.

Early Color (8/31/16) Anirudh Natekar

Early Color (8/31/16) Anirudh Natekar

Flowering Plum, Santa Rosa (8/31/16) Anirudh Natekar

Flowering Plum, Santa Rosa (8/31/16) Anirudh Natekar

Anirudh Natekar contributed shots of color found in Santa Rosa. Though, we assess it to be normal summer color. Some ornamental trees, like purple leaf plum, Japanese maple, American persimmon and Norway maple, provide beautiful maroon, purple and deep red color in summer. Even liquidambar can do so.

Though, the red or purple color is not the result of autumn. It’s just the tree’s normal color. Still, they do provide bloody good contrast to the greenness of summer.

Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano

Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano

Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano

Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano

Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano

Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano

Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano

Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Sano

Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Soto

Piedmont (9/2/16) Darrell Soto

Darrell Sano took an 8-mile “town walk” this past week from the BART station at Lake Merritt in Oakland up windy hilly roads through Piedmont.

The day was clear and sunny day, he reported, “a departure from the overcast ‘June Gloom’ that has plagued the Bay Area most of July and August, with below average temperatures and a thick marine fog blanketing the sky.  Darrell got a number of lovely images of what’s happening among the landscaped and native color of the East Bay, backlit with late summer light.  Darrell exudes, “There is nothing like fall light!… backlit fall colors simply glow vividly.” 

 

Berkeley Already?

Tilden Park, Berkeley (8/23/16) Sandy Steinman

Tilden Park, Berkeley (8/23/16) Sandy Steinman

Red isn’t supposed to be seen in Berkeley until Stanford visits for The Big Game. Yet, Natural History Wandering’s Sandy Steinman sent colorful shots of crimson, coral and rose foliage blushing at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Berkeley’s Tilden Park.

He even found a summer holly (Comarostaphylis diversifolia) carrying bright lime, yellow, orange and red berries.

Check out Sandy’s newly updated national and California fall color pages (Blogroll at left). There’s lots of great info on his blog to inspire wandering in search of fall color.

Just Starting (0-10%) – Berkeley

Tilden Park, Berkeley (8/23/16) Sandy Steinman

Comarostaphyllis diversifolia, Tilden Park, Berkeley (8/23/16) Sandy Steinman

Tilden Park, Berkeley (8/23/16) Sandy Steinman

Tilden Park, Berkeley (8/23/16) Sandy Steinman

Tilden Park, Berkeley (8/23/16) Sandy Steinman

Tilden Park, Berkeley (8/23/16) Sandy Steinman

Tilden Park, Berkeley (8/23/16) Sandy Steinman

Tilden Park, Berkeley (8/23/16) Sandy Steinman

Tilden Park, Berkeley (8/23/16) Sandy Steinman

Tilden Park, Berkeley (8/23/16) Sandy Steinman

 

 

 

Oakland: Yellow and Green in Fall, but Red?

Sycamore line Trestle Glen, Oakland (8/19/16) Darrell Sano

Sycamore line Trestle Glen, Oakland (8/19/16) Darrell Sano

We know Oakland sports yellow and green in August, as those are the colors of the town’s baseball team, the Athletics, but red?

Color spotter Darrell Sano took an eight-mile hike “from downtown Oakland to the foothills of my neighborhood, Montclair. While I wouldn’t say it’s fall color time here, there is a tinge of color on many trees and shrubs, and it feels like autumn for sure.”

Chinese pistache, Oakland (8/19/16) Darrell Sano

Chinese pistache, Oakland (8/19/16) Darrell Sano

Japanese maple, Oakland (8/19/16) Darrell Sano

Japanese maple, Oakland (8/19/16) Darrell Sano

Liquidambar, Oakland (8/19/16) Darrell Sano

Liquidambar, Oakland (8/19/16) Darrell Sano

The photos Darrell sent are startling, as the trees are showing quite a bit of early color for a part of California that is often among the last to peak.

Of course, all of the showy deciduous trees in Oakland are exotics (Japanese maple, Chinese pistache, sycamore, liquidambar), so there’s no telling what clock they’re on.

Darrell said he would have missed the color had he been driving. Instead, he encourages “walking and meandering’ your hometown, like “hiking in the Sierra.”

What is remarkable, is that Darrell noted, “The light quality has changed, adding warmth to everything, as well as increasing backlit contrast.” He “used a very short 18-55mm telephoto lens” which mean he had to walk up to the color and observe it in order to fully appreciate the early display within Oakland’s neighborhoods.

He reported that nearly turned sycamore line Trestle Glen in Oakland, and that “some leaf raking has already begun!”

Chinese pistache, Oakland (8/19/16) Darrell Sano

Chinese pistache, Oakland (8/19/16) Darrell Sano

His pictures show spots of fluorescent red among the Chinese pistache, with the forbidden color (red-green) – so called because it is not perceptible to the color-blind – emerging with florid edges on the pistache bleeding into the green.  

Oakland homes laden with Boston ivy are also warming up, with about half turned red, so far.

Remarkable, and it’s not yet September! Ånd, aren’t Oakland’s September colors supposed to be yellow and green? 

Just Starting (0-10%) – Oakland

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Fall Color Continues Into Winter

Trestle Glen, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Trestle Glen, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

True to its claim as the longest-lasting autumn show in North America, California’s show of fall color continues into winter with bright color still being seen at sea level throughout the Golden State.

Photographer Darrell Sano carried a camera on an eight-mile walk through Oakland and Berkeley this past Sunday and sent back these images of the autumn color he discovered along his wet walk. Darrell was pelted with rain by the second of three storms that passed through the North State, so far this week (another is predicted over the Christmas Day weekend).

He wrote that while winter weather has certainly arrived, there’s still “ample color” to be appreciated. And, though “the grand vistas and sweeping panoramas are behind us for the year, there is beauty still around, even on the ground, if one looks close enough. There are endless compositions, juxtaposition of color and backgrounds that produce unexpected results.”

We have reported previously, and Darrell noted, that magnolia trees are about to explode with beautiful white, pink, yellow and rose blossoms.  

Darrell reported seeing early flowers on several magnolia trees. One of the best places to see the January show is at the San Francisco Botanical Garden and Arboretum in Golden Gate Park where many species of mature magnolias can be enjoyed.

Though we appreciate Darrell’s photographs, observations and comments, we’ll not take up his suggestion of transitioning from reporting California Fall Color to reporting California Spring Color, and instead plan to enjoy the winter, spring and summer break from reporting color.

Now that winter has arrived officially, it’s time to say with all finality… “See you next autumn, dude.”

Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – San Francisco Bay Area – Lots of fall color remains to enjoy in Berkeley and Oakland

Lake Merritt Park, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Lake Merritt Park, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Lake Merritt Park, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Lake Merritt Park, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

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Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland (12/20/15) Darrell Sano

 

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Pleasanton’s Skies Darken, Rain and Color Drops

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Late last evening, color spotter Anirudh Natekar reported that Pleasanton was still at full peak and documented it with these photographs of hot-orange trees at the Hacienda Business Park. However, along with the color is seen a foreboding, darkening sky, the harbinger of an approaching storm.

 

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

Hacienda Business Park, Pleasanton (11/9/15) Anirudh Natekar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning, blustery winds blew across Northern California as the front edge of a winter storm blew over the West Coast. No doubt, much of the bright peak fall color that Anirudh captured in the East Bay, yesterday, was stripped from branches.

As evidence, my yard (in the Sierra foothills) was wet and littered with the mushy fiber of yellow, orange, brown and black newly fallen, but spent leaves.

For the color spotter not wishing autumn to end, some fall color remains in areas that were protected from the wind or that had not yet fully peaked, though most is now gone with the wind.

And if you must find color, look for irridescent red berries on hawthorn branches and toyon bushes. They provide intense and cheerful seasonal color in the flat light of an approaching winter.

Past Peak YOU MISSED IT! – Northern California

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California’s Parrots: Fall Color on the Wing

Nanday Conure in Sycamore (11/28/15) Kathy Jonokuchi

Nanday Conure in Sycamore (11/28/15) Kathy Jonokuchi

As leaves fall from deciduous trees, flocks of exotic parrots become visible at points along the California coast.

While their loud screeching may be heard at other times of year, many of the parrots are seen infrequently, as their yellow-green feathers camouflage them in the foliage. That is, until late autumn.

The flocks likely started from a few pet birds that escaped or were released by owners, and who now number several hundred. Thirteen species of South American, African and Asian parrots have become naturalized in California and are becoming a seasonal attraction.

The most famous of them (visible year round) are San Francisco’s “Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill,” a mix of cherry-headed conures, that were chronicled in an award-winning documentary of the same name (seen below).

In Los Angeles County, black-hooded parakeets (Nanday Conures) flock together during the late days of autumn where they feed from western San Bernardino County west to Malibu on liquidambar and sycamore seed pods and king palm seeds.

The annual reappearance of a flock of Nandays, known as the Pasadena Parrots, are a colorful herald to preparations for the town’s Tournament of Roses celebrations.

Southern California color spotter Kathy Jonokuchi captured one such group of black-hooded parakeets squawking while roosting in a sycamore tree (seen above).

CLICK HERE to read more about California’s parrots.

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Natural Christmas Ornaments

Quarryhill Botanic Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15)

American beautyberry, Quarryhill Botanical Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15) Darrell Sano

Quarryhill Botanic Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15)

Quarryhill Botanical Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15) Darrell Sano

Quarryhill Botanic Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15)

Quarryhill Botanical Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15) Darrell Sano

Seeing Darrell Sano’s photos of natural Christmas ornaments hanging from branches, I concluded they’re better looking than the artificial ones I’d just taken out of storage.

Yesterday, Darrell took a Black, er… Orange Friday road trip through Sonoma along Highway 12 and shares these images from his visit to Quarryhill Botanical Garden in Glen Ellen.

He reports that while Sonoma County’s vines are now well past peak (many had no leaves at all, most were brown or muddy yellow in color), he found an exuberant explosion of color at Quarryhill.

Loads of colorful berries and fruit provided added vibrance and form, in addition to harlequin-painted leaves.

“In the sunny, chilly morning, I was so happy to experience this beautiful garden (instead of a mall!),” he writes of his Orange Friday outing, and recommends Quarryhill Botanical Garden as “definitely a place to return to in springtime.”

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/28/15) Darrell Sano

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/28/15) Darrell Sano

Inspired by his Quarryhill visit, Darrell remembered Sandy Steinman’s report about the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley and headed there, today.

He reports, “I was amazed by the color. I felt this was possibly my last “gasp” at seeing the wonderment of fall color for the year. But you never know, California has so much to offer and discover.”

We agree, Darrell.  To use your words, it is, “An amazing place.” 

Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – Quarryhill Botanical Garden, Glen Ellen

Peak (75-100%) GO NOW! – UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley

Quarryhill Botanic Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15)

Quarryhill Botanical Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15) Darrell Sano

Vineyard, Sonoma County (11/27/15) Darrell Sano

Vineyard, Sonoma County (11/27/15) Darrell Sano

Quarryhill Botanic Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15)

Quarryhill Botanical Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15) Darrell Sano

Quarryhill Botanic Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15)

Quarryhill Botanical Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15) Darrell Sano

Quarryhill Botanic Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15)

Quarryhill Botanical Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15) Darrell Sano

Quarryhill Botanic Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15)

Quarryhill Botanical Gardens, Glen Ellen (11/27/15) Darrell Sano

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/28/15) Darrell Sano

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/28/15) Darrell Sano

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/28/15) Darrell Sano

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/28/15) Darrell Sano

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/28/15) Darrell Sano

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (11/28/15) Darrell Sano