Hooded Merganser, Arroyo Simi, Simi Valley (11/7/21) Kathy Jonokuchi
Ventura County is just ducky, right now. Its waterways are filled with migrant ducks, that have returned to overwinter in Southern California.
SoCal color spotter Kathy Jonokuchi describes Arroyo Simi, in the Simi Valley, as a wash that runs through the suburbs. Presently, it is a birding hotspot, attracting Hooded Mergansers, Lophodytes cucullatus and American Wigeons, Mareca americana.
Hooded Merganser, Arroyo Simi, Simi Valley (11/7/21) Kathy Jonokuchi
The mergansers favor secluded, sheltered or overgrown locations. They often opt for shady areas, so Kathy’s shots of them cruising in the sunlight across dappled waters are special. Male mergansers sport spectacular plumage which contrasts beautifully with irregular fall sunlight and makes the boys attractive to the girls who wear more demure and dusky dress, reports Lone Pine’s field guide, Birds of Northern California. “Mergansers are shallow divers, unlike dabbling ducks such as the mallard or wigeon,” Kathy writes.
American Wigeon, Arroyo Simi, Simi Valley (11/7/21) Kathy Jonokuchi
The male American wigeons have an irridescent green smear that runs from their eye arcing across their heads, with a cinnamon breast and black and white feathers. Their ladies have greyish heads and brown bodies.
Now, you’ve got us inspired, Kathy. We’re off to Colusa on our annual trek to enjoy the beauty of California’s migratory waterfowl. Now, isn’t that just ducky?
Wildlife viewing, Aroyo Simi, Simi Valley – Peak (75 – 100%), GO NOW!
California Gray Squirrel, Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Normally, photographs a week old aren’t published on CaliforniaFallColor.com. That’s done purposefully so that our readers see what colors are appearing now. However, when Gary Skipper sent these shots of autumn’s critters taken a week ago, I recognized they’re not about the fall color but about the critters, and that’s timeless.
Besides, there’s an autumn story to tell and it’s my birthday, so it’s my present to you … or more properly, Gary’s present.
Leading the birthday party is the California Gray Squirrel, Sciurus griseus. A trait of our native squirrels are that they are timid and will run up a tree at the slightest provocation and sound a hoarse chirping call. Also, they’re threatened by an invasive specie, the Eastern Fox Squirrel, Scurius niger. So, our California squirrel needs all the attention he can get, even if he is camera shy.
Lodgepole chipmunk, Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
California quail, Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
California Gray Squirrel, Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Joining the Western Gray Squirrel (its other name) is a Lodgepole chipmunk, Tamias speciosus, and standing at attention is a California quail, Callipepla californica.
Gary took the photographs at Jackson Lake near Wrightwood in Southern California. He said Vallyermo had good pockets of fall color when he visited, though admitted some of the subtleties may be missing, since he’s color blind.
The only word of advice we have is, “Gary, don’t adjust your white card. The colors are great!” And, because he did so well, despite not having the same ability others have at determining red or green, I’m gonna break that rule and post the rest of his shots, even though the Jackson Lake, Vallyermo and Wrightwood area is Past Peak.
Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Black oak, Jackson Lake (10/31/21) Gary Skipper II
Jackson Lake, Wrightwood (6,000′) – Past Peak, You Missed It.
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis (Sunbust [l], Rhus aromatica [r], LA County Arboretum (11/5/21) Frank McDonough
The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens is evolving. A week ago, it was just starting. Now it’s just … Patchy.
Walkers and photographers visited the day Frank McDonough took these pics. The Arboretum is a late November peak and it appears to be progressing toward that. It’s a bellweather for other arboretums in Southern California. So, plan your visits based on what you see here and if you’re trying to decide on the right tree or foliage to add fall color to your garden, this month is the time to visit them.
Liriodendron tulipfera, Meadowbrook Section, LA County Arboretum (11/5/21) Frank McDonough
Acer fremanii (Jeffers Red), LA County Arboretum (11/5/21) Frank McDonough
Baldwin Lake, LA County Arboretum (11/5/21) Frank McDonough
Carya ovata(Shagbark hickory), LA County Arboretum (11/5/21) Frank McDonough
Crepe myrtle, LA County Arboretum (11/5/21) Frank McDonough
Acer freemanii (Jeffers Red), Event Lawn, LA County Arboretum (11/5/21) Frank McDonough
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden (482′) – Patchy (10 – 50%)
Fire recovery, Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres NF (10/25/21) Parrish Todd
Los Padres National Forest delighted the senses with beautiful color, last autumn. Though, fans of the forest worried how it would recover from wildfires. Parrish Todd sends proof it is doing just fine.
Frémont cottonwood, Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres NF (10/25/21) Parrish Todd
She visited Rose Valley Falls Campground in the Topatopa Mountains within the forest’s Sespe Wilderness and found a gorgeous texture of vermillion, yellow, moss green and tan shrubs, grasses and ground covers populating the hills.
Los Padres National Forest has a long autumn. Presently, the color varies from Near Peak to Peak, though color will continue well into December.
Curiously, Parrish happened upon a Chinese pistache growing in the Sespe Wilderness. This is an exotic tree whose home area is Asia. So, for one to be growing in a wilderness area means it had to have been planted there at some time. Though they have lovely color, it’s probably not a tree that should remain in a natural area.
Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres NF (3,450′) – Near Peak (50 – 75%) Go Now.
Chinese pistache, Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest (10/25/21) Parrish Todd
The San Gabriel Mountains surrounding Jackson Lake are near full glory, reports Gary Skipper.
Black oak, San Gabriel Mountains (10/23/21) Gary Skipper
Gary explored paths around the lake and past campgrounds finding the color to be vibrant and the weather inviting.
He found a particularly illuminated tree in Wrightwood, where desert Joshua Trees live beside Fremont cottonwood and was thrilled to encounter foxes, squirrels, chipmunks and deer out enjoying the autumn sun.
Black oak
Grey Fox
Joshua Tree and Fremont Cottonwood
Black oak, Jackson Lake
San Gabriel Mountains (10/23/21) Gary Skipper
San Gabriel Mountains (5,900’) – Near Peak (50 – 75%), Go Now.
Blaze Autumn, Freeman’s maple, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (10/20/21) Frank McDonough
When our anchor leg runner starts stripping sweats, we know the end of autumn lies ahead. And, California Fall Color’s anchor runner is LA County.
No more beautiful place in LA County to see diverse and vivid autumn color is found than at its Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia.
So, when the Arboretum’s doyen of autumn sent his first photo today, I thought, “What! Already?”
It was received earlier than expected, though Frank McDonough’s selection was not unexpected. This year’s early dresser, like the Hollywood star it is, likes to upstage all the other trees and plants at the Arboretum. Blaze Autumn, a Freeman’s maple loves to put on the Ritz in bold crimson and brash orange. If Blaze was a Hollywood celebrity walking a red carpet, the carpet would look up in envy.
Other plants at the Arboretum pretend to be as colorful as Blaze, but they never compare … at least as far as upstaging goes.
Nyssa salvatica in the Meadowbrook Section
Autumn Blaze, on the Event Lawn
Rhus aromatica, near Meyberg Falls
Autumn Blaze, Crescent Garden, LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden (10/19/21) Frank McDonough
The LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, Arcadia (482′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2021-10-21 13:00:002021-10-20 23:26:33Blazing in LA County
Forest Falls is a key gateway to the Sand to Snows National Monument in the San Bernardino Mountains and home to the original trail into the San Gorgonio Wilderness.
Lined with bigleaf maple, black oak and aspen, the trail is a favorite in autumn. SoCal color spotter Jim Van Matre describes the trail as “showing off its color, right now.”
Bigleaf maple, Forest Falls (10/11/21) Jim Van Matre
Bigleaf maple, Forest Falls (10/11/21) Jim Van Matre
He states, “The drive up Valley of the Falls Drive from Highway 38 is beautiful, but the payoff is at the top around the Falls Picnic Area.
Forest Falls, San Bernardino Mountains (10/11/21) Jim Van Matre
Forest Falls, San Bernardino Mountains (5,700′) – Patchy (10 – 50%)
Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/9/21) Jim Van Matre
The autumn show has begun in the San Bernardino Mountains around Big Bear.
SoCal color spotter Jim Van Matre was there on Saturday to find “a lot of color along dirt road N210 for the first mile or two. After that there is no color.”
He estimates the show to be just beginning with native trees (aspen, bigleaf maple, black oak) tending to change quickly, “before falling off.”
Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/9/21) Jim Van Matre
Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/9/21) Jim Van Matre
Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/9/21) Jim Van Matre
Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino Mountains (10/9/21) Jim Van Matre
Exotic trees in and around town are spectacular with shades of red and orange. Because of the quick peak and some species peaking, we’re categorizing Big Bear Lake as Near Peak.
Big Bear Lake (6,752′) – Near Peak (50 – 75%), Go Now!
Paco, Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail (9/26/21) Soyoung Kim
Even Paco appreciated the color to be seen along the Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail near Idlyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains. His best friend, Soyoung Kim, joined him in appreciating Patchy color amidst a mixed forest of bigleaf maple, willow and oak. What’s next Paco, Bishop Creek Canyon!?
Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail (9/26/21) Soyoung Kim
Fulmor Lake, Idyllwild (9/26/21) Soyoung Kim
The Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail is part of San Bernardino National Forest and passes through the San Jacinto Wilderness. It’s an easy 2.6-mile hike beginning at 6400′ and descending 700′ from Humber Park. Several species of trees are found along the way, along with good views of Suicide and Lily Rocks.
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2021-09-28 20:06:102021-09-30 10:05:29Doggone Good Color
Japanese Maple, Descanso Gardens, La Canada-Flintridge (9/16/21) Julie Kirby
Some varieties of Japanese maple provide brilliant crimson in autumn. So. California color spotter Julie Kirby found examples at Descanso Gardens this week in La Canada-Flintridge.
Last week’s heat wave scorched several of the garden’s maples, though it appears milder temperatures will prevail in the future.
It’s still too early for much change elsewhere in Southern California. Though, high elevations in the San Bernardino Mountains will show first.
Descanso Gardens, La Canada-Flintridge (1,188′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
