It’s Orange Friday, the day following Thanksgiving Day when California overcomes tryptophan-induced lethargy and goes outdoors to enjoy fall color before it’s gone.
On the San Francisco Peninsula, tall gingko biloba are littering city streets with gold.
Elsewhere in the Bay Area, American beautyberries (Callicarpa americana) provide holiday ornamentation at the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden and fallen leaves are now strewn across Berkeley.
Down south, the place for peak color is the LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens in Arcadia. Orange-toned crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia) now dominate and more color is revealed each day to mid December.
Wisteria and grape vines, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonoughGladiolus and crepe myrtle LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonoughCrepe myrtle, Bauer lawn, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonoughCrepe myrtle, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonoughCrepe myrtle, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonoughCrepe myrtle and white birch, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonoughPomegranate, LA County Arboretum, Arcadia (11/25/20) Frank McDonough
Along the American River, cyclists, skaters and walkers on the 32-mile American River Parkway are enjoying one of the most colorful autumns in memory.
CSU Sacramento (11/25/20) Steve AritaCSU Sacramento (11/25/20) Steve AritaCSU Sacramento (11/25/20) Steve AritaGuy West Bridge, American River (11/25/20) Steve AritaAmerican River, Sacramento (11/25/20) Steve AritaGuy West Bridge, American River (11/25/20) Steve AritaGuy West Bridge, American River (11/25/20) Steve Arita
In the Gold Country, “Maple Lane,” a boulevard of maples leading to the Empire Cottage at Empire Mine SHP is at peak and will remain good through this weekend. So, spend your Orange Friday weekend being filled with the beauty of this lovely and historic place.
Maple Lane, Empire Mine SHP (11/25/20) Steve Arita
Or at old Monterey where gingko biloba, Asian maple and sycamore dress city streets with gold, yellow and chartreuse-colored leaves.
Monterey (11/26/20) Sam ReevesMonterey (11/26/20) Sam ReevesMonterey (11/26/20) Sam ReevesMonterey (11/26/20) Sam ReevesMonterey (11/26/20) Sam ReevesMonterey (11/26/20) Sam Reeves
But, don’t plan to go swimming in Davis where backyard pools are covered with leaves.
Backyard pool, Davis (11/26/20) Philip Reedy
Unless you’re a duck. This pintail drake just enjoyed his morning bath at the Colusa NWR.
Morning bath, Pintail duck drake, Colusa NWR (11/25/20) Philip Reedy
Today is just another Orange Friday. It’s a day best spent outdoors enjoying fleeting moments of California Fall Color.
CaliforniaFallColor.com is a seasonal news site that reports on autumn’s show throughout California. The site is written, edited and published by Lara Kaylor, a travel and outdoor journalist based in Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
