Gilman St., Berkeley (11/18/17) Sandy Steinman
Marathoners passed Peak fall color on their route along historic Telegraph Ave., through North Berkeley and the vibrant Fourth Street district, down Gilman Street, along the waterfront and back to downtown Berkeley this past weekend, while competing in the Berkeley Half Marathon.
Berkeley – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Bobcat (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
This bobcat brought us back to report about Oak Glen (see yesterday’s post).
Here’s the story. This past weekend, Southern California color spotter Alena Nicholas called to say she planned a Sunday drive to Oak Glen, and asked if we could use any photos. I answered that I thought it was Past Peak, but you never know, there might be something good to shoot.
She returned with yesterday’s report, including a nice shot of deer in an apple orchard, which inspired posting a pie recipe… it seemed like a nice way to tell our readers about neat places like Oak Glen.
After posting the article, Alena called again and said she was on vacation and planned to drive over to Idyllwild and Lake Hemet. Could we use photos of those places? Again, I answered that I thought it was Past Peak, but you never know, there might be something good to shoot, and – by the way – could she stay and shoot sunset? (see previous post).
On her way to the San Jacinto Mountains, Alena passed Oak Glen and called excitedly, asking, “Have you ever gotten a photograph of a bobcat with fall color?”
“Send it immediately, I’m putting together our year-end recap video,” I replied.
We’ll let her photos tell the rest of the story.
Bobcat, Oak Glen (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Bobcat, Oak Glen (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Apples, Oak Glen (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Apple orchard, Oak Glen (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Oak Glen (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Oak Glen (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Sumac, Oak Glen (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Black oak, Oak Glen (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Lake Fulmor (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Lake Fulmor (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Lake Hemet (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Spectacular sunset are not limited to California’s Central Valley. Alena Nicholas stayed late on a photo shoot at Lake Hemet in the San Jacinto Mountains and, boy, are we happy she did.
The scene above is just one of several frames full of fall color. Following are others in her progression of sunset shots taken at Lake Hemet. A trick in sunset photography is to arrive early and stay late, as color can continue to improve, even after the sun has set.
Also, note her use of various shutter speeds to create visual drama on the water. In frame #3 (below), she waited to capture Canada geese as they flew low across the water (a nesting pair of Bald eagles can be seen at the lake). Click on image to enlarge.
Lake Hemet (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Lake Hemet (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Lake Hemet (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Lake Hemet (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Alena reports that spots of fall color can still be seen among willows and trees, near Lake Hemet and Idyllwild, southeast of Riverside.
Lake Hemet Campgrounds are a popular spot for Thanksgiving Week campers.
A call to Lake Hemet confirmed that campsites remain available. CLICK HERE for details. For a joyful moment, on their website, watch their excellent video about all there is to do at the lake.
Lake Hemet – Peak to Past Peak – You Almost Missed It.
Lake Hemet (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Lake Hemet (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Lake Hemet (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Lake Hemet (11/20/17) Alena Nicholas
Mule deer in an apple orchard, Oak Glen (11/19/17) Alena Nicholas
Los Rios Rancho (11/19/17) Alena Nicholas
One of California’s great autumn traditions is driving to Oak Glen (San Bernardino County), Apple Hill (El Dorado County) or Julian (San Diego County) for a taste of the harvest.
Of course, no trip to these apple-growing areas is complete without buying an apple pie, apple strudel, apple dumpling, candied apple, apple cider or some other delicious apple delicacy.
Legendary Oak Glen bakers, Theresa Law of Law’s Oak Glen Coffee Shop and Steve Gillespie of Los Rios Rancho are famous for their apple pies. The following recipe incorporates the best of both.
Since food is so important to Thanksgiving Week, we provide the recipe should you want to bring a taste of California Fall Color to your Thanksgiving Day dinner. Why, even the mule deer are paying attention.
Of course, as color spotter Alena Nicholas suggests, there’s still time to get to Oak Glen, Apple Hill or Julian, should you want to buy a pie straight out of the oven and bring home the sweet smell of autumn.
Indian Corn, Oak Glen (11/19/17) Alena Nicholas
Famous Oak Glen Apple Pie
Ingredients:
- 9 cups peeled, cored, and thinly sliced apples such as Idared, Jonagold, Newtown Pippin, or Stayman Winesap (about 2 1/2 lb. total) Adjust sugar and lemon juice according to the sweetness of the apples you use.
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 4-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pastry for a double-crust 9-inch pie
- 1-1/3 cups apple juice
- 1 cinnamon stick (3 in.)
- 1 strip orange peel (1/2 by 4 in., orange part only)
- 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- Vanilla ice cream (optional)
- Mix apple slices with 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and ground cinnamon and nutmeg. Taste and, if desired, add more granulated sugar and lemon juice
- On a lightly floured board, roll half the pastry into a round 1/8 inch thick. Line a 9-inch pie pan with pastry. Fill with apple mixture.
- On a lightly floured board, roll remaining pastry into a 1/8-inch-thick round and lay over apple mixture. Fold edges of top pastry over edges of the bottom one and crimp to seal together. Cut decorative slits in top pastry and sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon granulated sugar.
- Bake on the lowest rack in a 375° oven until juices bubble in center of pie, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. If pastry edges brown before pie is done, drape affected areas with foil. Cool pie on a rack at least 2 hours.
- Meanwhile, in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart pan, combine apple juice, cinnamon stick, and orange peel. Cover and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Stir in brown sugar until it dissolves. Mix remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch smoothly with 3 tablespoons water; stir into juice mixture over high heat until sauce boils. Discard cinnamon stick and orange peel.
- Cut warm or cool pie into wedges; top each portion with vanilla ice cream and warm or cool cinnamon sauce.
Oak Glen (11/19/17) Alena Nicholas
Oak Glen (11/19/17) Alena Nicholas
Oak Glen (11/19/17) Alena Nicholas
Oak Glen (11/19/17) Alena Nicholas
Oak Glen (11/19/17) Alena Nicholas
Oak Glen (11/19/17) Alena Nicholas
Nutritional Information Per Serving:
Folsom Lake sunset (11/19/17) John Poimiroo
Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning;
Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.
Why do mariners repeat this lore? Blame William Shakespeare, the playright, or Matthew, the disciple.
In Venus and Adonis, Shakespeare wrote of red skies in the morning:
Like a red morn that ever yet betokened,
Wreck to the seaman, tempest to the field,
Sorrow to the shepherds, woe unto the birds,
Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds.
In the new testament of the Bible, Matthew (16:2-3), attributed the following red sky at night reference to Jesus, “When it is evening, ye say, fair weather: for the heaven is red.”
These help explain the popularity of the rhyme, but not how it came to be believed or whether it’s true.
Folsom Lake sunset (11/19/17) John Poimiroo
The federal National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Earth System Research Laboratory informs that because weather generally moves from west to east, when the horizon is clear of storms at dusk, sunlight is able to pass through more of the atmosphere.
The longer sunlight passes through air molecules and particulates the more red and orange light is intensified.
That’s because blue light – because of its shorter wavelength – is scattered easiest by nitrogen and oxygen air molecules, whereas reds and oranges – with longer wavelengths – are not scattered as much over the same distance.
And, when there’s no storm approaching from the west, sunlight travels a longer distance through the atmosphere. That phenomenon is even greater in autumn, due to the low angle of sunlight at sunrise and sunset in the Northern Hemisphere.
As for red skies in the morning, the same idea applies, but in reverse. Redness in the sky occurs when warm morning light reflects off high storm clouds approaching from the west.
The reason sailors should take warning when red clouds are overhead at sunrise, is that they are likely the leading edge of an approaching storm, unseen in the morning darkness to the west.
Clakit StrapPack
Have you ever had to unpack your camera bag or backpack to find a cell phone or wallet?
The developer of the Clakit Clip was hiking California’s mountains (hopefully looking for fall color) when he realized he was constantly searching the bottom of his bag for something. That inspired his developing a durable universal clip and series of companion pouches that can be attached to shoulder straps up to 3″ wide.
Clakit Clip
The key is the Clakit Clip, a self-ratcheting nylon clip that uses pressure and pins to securely grip the shoulder strap and that adapts to varied Clakit pouches (for cell phones, water bottles, handheld radios, GPS devices, and other items) or other belt loop carriers.
It’s ideal for getting to small items, like: phones, glasses, lens cloths, ID cards, snacks, payment cards, notebooks, keys, pocket tools, flashlights, water bottles and other things you might need at a moment’s notice.
We tested the Clakit StrapPack, which has two zippered, padded compartments and a front flap pocket secured by velcro. At 7″ x 4″ x 1.5″, the StrapPack easily and protectively accommodated an iPhone 8 Plus, ID cards, credit cards, a pen, photographer’s notebook and cash.
The Clakit Clip held the StrapPack snugly to the shoulder strap on a LowePro camera backpack and NorthFace day pack. And, the StrapPack made it easy to get to what was inside… no more digging around or removing a backpack to answer a phone or pay for lunch.
StrapPack seen from behind
When the backpack was no longer needed, the StrapPack can be removed easily from the clip and secured by one’s side with a belt. For anyone who doesn’t carry a purse, the StrapPack consolidates phone and wallet into one compact and secure pouch that can be clipped to shoulder strap or belt.
Priced at $20, the Clakit StrapPack is a holiday gift that just about anyone can use and enjoy. To buy one or learn more, visit Clakit.com.
Doug Wilber sweeps leaves along 43rd St. in Sacramento (11/18/17) John Poimiroo
41st St., Sacramento (11/18/17) John Poimiroo
Doug Wilber spent part of his Saturday, much as he has done each Autumn for the past 17 years… raking and sweeping leaves into a pile in front of his Sacramento home.
His neighbors along 43rd St. had or were doing the same when I visited today.
The City of Sacramento calls this time of year, “Leaf Season.” It’s when the city’s fastidious residents rake, sweep and blow leaves from their front yards into piles every few feet along city streets. Then, every couple of weeks from November through January, city workers come by and scoop them up.
That leaf removal continues for three months in Sacramento tells you just how many trees grow there. This capital city loves its deciduous trees, which provide cooling shade in summer and warming sunlight during winter.
Folsom Bike Trail (11/18/17) John Poimiroo
Mormon Island Wetland Reserve, Folsom (11/18/17) John Poimiroo
Even SMUD, the local public utility, encourages their being planted to save energy. Sacramento County residents are able to get ten free shade trees through a partnership between the Sacramento Tree Foundation and SMUD.
In Sacramento’s Shady Eighty program, residents can choose the desired height, shape, level of water dependency, if the tree flowers, how close or far it might be planted to structures or power lines, and – yes – desired fall color (red, yellow or orange).
Gingko biloba, William Land Regional Park, Sacramento (11/18/17) John Poimiroo
Gingko biloba leaves and clover, Land Park, Sacramento (11/18/17) John Poimiroo
Each year in the week before Thanksgiving, Sacramento streets are layered with canopies of ruby, crimson, orange, gold, yellow, green and buff-colored leaves. It is an impressive sight and worth a trip to Sacramento in addition to its great museums, bars, restaurants and the Freeport Bakery with its famous leaf cookies and other irresistible baked goods.
Roosters, Village Park, Fair Oaks (11/18/17) John Poimiroo
Leaf Cookies, Freeport Bakery, Sacramento (11/18/17) John Poimiroo
My favorite locations for seeing fall color in Sacramento County include: Mormon Island Wetland Reserve and bike trails of Folsom, quaint Fair Oaks where chickens run free, East Sacramento’s Fabulous Forties (Gracious Tudor, Colonial Revival, Arts and Crafts, California Bungalow and other grand homes along tree-lined streets numbered in the 40s), William Land Regional Park in South Sacramento and along the American River Parkway (Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail – a 32-mile paved bike and pedestrian trail from the Sacramento River to Folsom Lake).
Sacramento County – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
OK, Fall Color video junkies. While working on our year-end recap video, I ran across these videos of California Fall Color taken in October. All locations are past peak, though they give a glimpse of what was happening, as seen by various videographers and drones.
First up: Peter Mikuljan visited several locations in the Eastern Sierra on Oct. 14. Here’s his video of Big Pine Creek, South Fork Bishop Creek.
Peter’s take on Intake II in Bishop Creek Canyon. This area provided one of the best shows along the middle fork of Bishop Creek.
More of Peter’s crew in Bishop Creek Canyon.
And on a road trip to Aspendell in Bishop Creek Canyon:
Next: Titus Davis was in the Hope Valley in early October and got this zen-inspired video.
Titus also rocked out over the color he found on Monitor Pass in mid October.
Finally: William Thompson also took a road trip to the Hope Valley in mid October.
And, to Yosemite Valley in October (FYI, If you’re shooting commercially in a national park, always follow park rules and apply in advance for a commercial filming permit from the National Park Service. The fines for not doing so are pretty hefty).
Amanita spp, Anderson (11/15/17) Gabriel Leete
Recent rains have caused mushrooms to push up out of the detritus, as Gabriele Leete found in Anderson.
Amanita, Anderson (11/15/17) Gabriel Leete
Split-gill mushroom, Schizophyllum commune, Anderson (11/15/17) Gabriel Leete
Among the mushrooms emerging are Amanita, among the most poisonous mushrooms on Earth, the most toxic of which cause liver failure and death.
There are 600 varieties of Amanita, including a few edible ones, though eating them is like playing Russian roulette with five bullets in a six-shooter.
Split-gill mushrooms, or Schizophyllum commune, are the only known type of mushroom to retract when touched. They are found on decaying trees during dry periods following a rainfall. Its beautiful gills or “gillies” resemble coral.
Honey fungus, Armillaria mellea, Anderson (11/15/17) Gabriel Leete
Honey fungus, Armillaria spp, Anderson (11/15/17) Gabriel Leete
Sticky when wet, the honey fungus, Armillaria mellea, grows around the base of trees it infects. The mushroom is a plant pathogen that causes root rot in many of the plants it infects, causing discolored foliage, dieback of branches and death, according to Wikipedia.
Psathyrella is a smaller version of Psathyra, Greek for “Friable.” However, do not mistake these for being “fryable,” as they are toxic.
Psathyrella are in a large genus of mushrooms, containing some 400 types, including Coprinellus, Coprinopsis, Coprinus and Panaeolus.
Psathyrella spp, Anderson (11/15/17) Gabriel Leete
OK, you get the idea, they’ve all been given Greek names. Aside from that, what also is common about Psathyrella is that they’re boring.
They are often “drab-colored, difficult to identify, and inedible,” Wikipedia reports, “So they are sometimes considered uninteresting,” perhaps that’s what makes them so fascinating to Gabriel and me.
No, we’re not Greeks, just geeks.
Mushrooms, Shasta Cascade – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Main and 5th, Downtown Chico (11/11/17) Danie Schwartz
Bold color is being seen throughout Butte County in the northern Sacramento Valley, from Oroville north to Paradise.
Sumac, Biggs (11/12/17) Cindy Lee Hoover
Western redbud, Biggs (11/12/17) Cindy Lee Hoover
Western redbud and valley oak, Biggs (11/12/17) Cindy Lee Hoover
Chinese pistache, Biggs (11/12/17) Cindy Lee Hoover
Biggs Pond (11/12/17) Cindy Lee Hoover
The Midway, Durham (11/11/17) Danie Schwartz
Esplanade, Chico (11/1/17) Danie Schwartz
Paradise Lake (11/12/17) Cindy Lee Hoover
This is the week to see Oroville, Durham, Biggs, Chico and Paradise at peak. The color will likely last through Thanksgiving day (conditions permitting), though not much longer. Click to enlarge photos.
Black oak, Paradise (11/12/17) Cindy Lee Hoover
Butte County – Peak (75-100%) GO NOW!
Sank Park, Oroville (11/12/17) Cindy Lee Hoover
Gingko biloba, Sank Park, Oroville (11/12/17) Cindy Lee Hoover
Maple, Sank Park, Oroville (11/12/17) Cindy Lee Hoover
Lott Home, Sank Park, Oroville (11/12/17) Cindy Lee Hoover