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Avian Camouflage

Nanday Conures, Western sycamore, Peter Strauss Ranch, Cornell 11/14/22 Kathy Jonokuchi
Nanday Conures, Peter Strauss Ranch, Cornell (11/14/22) Kathy Jonokuchi

Had Kathy Jonokuchi not seen a Nanday Conure fly to one of the Western sycamores at the Peter Strauss Ranch in Cornell, she might not have been able to send photographs of them. Their lime green plumage is that well camouflaged with the chartreuse of peaking sycamore.

Until this past spring, the Peter Strauss Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains NRA had been closed to the public since the Woolsey Fire of ’18 due to hazardous conditions. Western sycamore and live oak survived the fire, as did these naturalized parakeets which were busy devouring sycamore seed pods and occasionally squawking when another flock of conures flew by.

She captured a trio of Nandays inspecting a tree hole, one likely made by one of many acorn woodpeckers in the area.

Western sycamore, Peter Strauss Ranch, Cornell 11/14/22 Kathy Jonokuchi
Western Sycamore, Peter Strauss Ranch, Cornell (11/14/22) Kathy Jonokuchi
  • Peter Strauss Ranch, Santa Monica Mountains NRA, Cornell (790′) – Patchy to Near Peak (10 – 75%) Go Now.
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Eponymous Trail

Dogwood Campground Loop, Lake Arrowhead (11/13/22) Bonnie Hulkower

When Bonnie Hulkower wrote she “had a lovely afternoon jaunt hiking through the Dogwood Trail at the eponymous campgrounds,” I immediately Googled “eponymous campgrounds,” as I didn’t know where campgrounds named “eponymous” might be.

Duh. She meant the Dogwood Campgrounds, after the similarly named (ergo, eponymous) Dogwood Campground Loop. OK, so I’m slow on the uptake, but I also had a good laugh at my own expense.

Turns out, the “reddish-pink” dogwood along the 3.8 mi. Dogwood Campground Loop near Lake Arrowhead are still at the tail end of peak, as are many black oak.

Bonnie reported the trail to be lightly traveled for a holiday weekend, though this is likely the last week to see color at this San Bernardino National Forest location.

  • Dogwood Campground Loop (5,174′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, You almost missed it.
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Stinky, Stinky

Frank McDonough, of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, knows how to raise a stink.

He sends photographs of two of the most malodorous fungi in Southern California,  the fetid Stinky Squid fungus (Pseudocolus fusformis) and Yellow staining Agaricus (Agaricus xanthodemus), the latter of which is toxic and warns away diners with a chlorine-like smell.

I asked Frank if the Arboretum seeded the fungi or whether they just appeared naturally. He replied that Stinky Squid spores come with the wood chips the arboretum uses as ground cover and propagate following a “big rain event.” The fungi are fascinating and colorful additions to autumn’s show.

As for the rest of the Arboretum, its trees are showing Patchy color. Autumn blaze maple, tupelo, redbud, pin oak and crepe myrtle are among the first and brightest to fire up. Some of the most dazzling displays of peak to follow will include gingko biloba, American elm, red oak, liquidambar, Dawn redwood, cypress, chestnut and Chinese tallow.

Now that California’s mountain forests are nearly past peak, the urban forests, orchards, vineyards and arboreta and botanic gardens will paint the landscape, and as rains fall so will emerge fungi to satisfy the eye, if not the nose.

Autumn blaze maple, (Acer X 'Jeffersred') LA County Arboretum (11/8/22) Frank McDonough
  • LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (482′) – Patchy (10-50%)
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Paco Returns

Paco can’t get enough fall color. He was seen sniffing out Liquidambar at the Coto Valley Country Club in Coto de Caza, today.

What!? No golf or tennis, Paco? Both games involve balls. Nope. Just autumn leaf peeping for Paco.

  • Coto de Caza (709′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
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The Arctic Circle

Arctic Circle, CA 330, Big Bear Lake (11/1/22) Gianna Crest

It isn’t what you think. This Arctic Circle isn’t up north, its down south.

If you drive this Arctic Circle (CA 330) through the San Bernardino Mountains, you won’t see any polar bears, though there is lots of orange color to be enjoyed among peak black oak on the mountainsides. The drive up to Big Bear Lake passes through stands of peaking oak.

  • Arctic Circle, CA 330, Big Bear Lake (6,752′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW!
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Big Bear Goes Big

Black oak and Ponderosa pine, Big Bear Lake (10/29/22) Jim Van Matre

Following a report that the aspen had peaked at Big Bear Lake, two reports arrived today showing big color among the black oak.

Jim Van Matre writes, “The west end of the valley had a lot of color. Forrest Road 2N10 from Mill Creek Rd up to where the pavement ends is especially beautiful.” Though he predicts that this week’s storm is likely to strip trees at full peak.

Trent Vierra adds, “Fall foliage is GO NOW peak color, especially with snow in the forecast next week.

Black oak, San Bernardino Mountains (10/29/22) Jim Van Matre

“The native black oaks are in great peak color throughout the mountains,” Trent continued. “Around the 6000-8000 ft range they’re at peak gold and orange color; the ambered hue shining like a gem amongst the green pine on hills and peaks around the valley.”

He describes the overall color on the oaks as, “one of the most impressive I’ve seen in years. A really healthy showing that has benefited from the cold nights and warm days. The native cottonwood and willow are also shining nice and yellow around the creeks, meadows, and other riparian areas.

Trent adds, “Decorative trees are also at peak color, with the village being especially impressive with a wide variety of colored trees throughout.”

Herder's cabins, Big Bear Lake (10/29/22) Jim Van Matre
Black oak, Big Bear Lake (10/29/22) Jim Van Matre
  • Big Bear Lake (6,752′) – PEAK (75-100%) GO NOW! – Black oak at peak.
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Bear Hunting

Paco, Happy Hills Trail, Big Bear Lake (10/24/22) Soyoung Kim

It’s illegal to go bear hunting with a dog in California, but don’t tell that to Paco who led Soyoung Kim on a hunt for fall color at Big Bear Lake.

Soyoung reported, “In talking to some locals, it seems we arrived just past peak, but still found some lovely color,” walking along the town’s main street, then to the Happy Hills Trail for a hike, that Paco relished, especially the smells.

After a stop at Ben and Jerry’s for Coffee, Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz! ice cream (Funny, my dogs prefer vanilla), Soyoung was powered for another hike up the Castle Rock Trail, leaving Paco to rest his weary 14-year-old bones and wonder why he didn’t get a taste of the ice cream.

With the Sun now on the other side of the San Bernardinos, Soyoung’s photos began to darken as light lessened, telling her it was time to turn back.
 
She found Paco secure and dreaming of fall color, bears and of licking an ice cream cone.
  • Big Bear Lake (6,752′) – PEAK to Past Peak, GO NOW, you almost missed it.
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Holiday Decorations

Green-winged teal, Arroyo Simi (12/21/21) Kathy Jonokuchi

As dazzlingly colorful as holiday decorations, the migratory birds at Arroyo Simi welcomed the first day of winter, this week.

Southern California color spotter Kathy Jonokuchi was in Simi Valley to record green-winged teal, Anas carolensis; American wigeon, Canada geese and white-faced Ibis, Plegadis chihi.

Kathy said she loves the drake Teals’ “bright green mask and wing band and their cinnamon-colored heads,” adding that the Ibis’ iridescent plumes “always captivate.” 

White-faced Ibis, Arroyo Simi (12/21/21) Kathy Jonokuchi
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Gone With The Wind

Western Sycamore, Malibu Creek SP (11/22/21) Kathy Jonokuchi

In autumn, the Santa Anas are strong, downslope winds that flow out of the Great Basin toward the south coast. They’re fearsome and often feed raging wildfires that incinerate dry areas of Southern California’s mountain ranges. This year, they scoured leaves from the branches of deciduous trees throughout the Santa Monica Mountains.

Southern California color spotter and naturalist Kathy Jonokuchi visited a favorite location, Malibu Creek State Park, where the forest appears Patchy with only a quarter of the trees still carrying their leaves.

The park was previously used for on-location filming of M*A*S*H the popular TV comedy about a Korean War mobile surgery unit. Once part of 20th Century Fox’s Movie Ranch, the location continues to appear in motion pictures and TV productions. In spite of the Santa Anas, Gone With The Wind was not filmed within the state park, though the scene in which Gerald walks with Scarlet was shot nearby at Malibu Lake.

Kathy did not visit Malibu Creek SP to study film history, but to study its trees and birds. She wanted to see how Western Sycamore have fared since the Woolsey Fire, four years ago, and found a grove that were spared the flames and are flourishing.

That’s good news for the Nanday Conure, naturalized parrots, which feed off sycamore seed pods during autumn. Once the trees lose their leaves, it’s easier to see the conures. During her visit, Kathy noticed the appearance of ash on the ground, but realized it was the fluffy seeds of cattail rushes, blown to the ground by the Santa Anas. The seeds will propagate in marshy  areas, a benefit of the Santa Anas which are otherwise thought of as a Southern California inconvenience.

  • Malibu Creek State Park, Santa Monica Mountains .91 – 2,739′) – Patchy (10 – 50%)
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Ready for Turkey Day

Turkey Tail fungi, tropical forest, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (11/18/21) Frank McDonough

These turkeys won’t be consumed on Thanksgiving Day, even though the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens will be open.

Frank McDonough shares these plates of autumn color in preparation for our national day of thanks and fellowship.

Horse chestnuts, Meadowbrook, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (11/18/21) Frank McDonough

Garden of Quiet Reflection, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (11/18/21) Frank McDonough

Pecan, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (11/18/21) Frank McDonough

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pomegranate and Japanese Maple, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (11/18/21) Frank McDonough

Meyberg Falls, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (11/18/21) Frank McDonough

Late turning Gingko biloba, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (11/18/21) Frank McDonough

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pomegranate, Queen Anne Cottage, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (11/18/21) Frank McDonough

LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (11/18/21) Frank McDonough

Horse chestnut, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (11/18/21) Frank McDonough

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This tree … rocks, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (11/18/21) Frank McDonough

  • LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (482′) – Patchy (10 – 50%)