Oh, what joy it is to get fall photos in winter.
Michelle Pontoni visited Eureka this week, to send back these snaps of a Gingko biloba still Near Peak at the Wharfinger Building, downtown.
Michelle reports that there’s still a lot of color hanging on downtown.
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.”
It’s the final day of autumn. Tomorrow, winter arrives.
Though, we could not let autumn pass without one final reminder, one final report.
One hundred times more Monarch butterflies are being seen along the California coast this year, than were counted last year, as reported on CBS News.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/monarch-butterflies-return-to-california-in-droves/
California’s autumn begins and ends with two very similar trees … Quaking aspen and Frémont cottonwood.
While color spotting along Alamo Creek between San Ramon and Dublin, Salil Bhatt was at first mistaken when he identified Frémont cottonwood as being Quaking aspen, but after checking references realized his error.
They each have heart-shaped leaves and are different types of poplars, but they grow in different ranges.
Quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides, grow between 3,000 and 10,000′ in elevation. Whereas, Frémont cottonwood, Populus fremontii, are seen only up to 6,500′.
So, while aspen begin the peak, cottonwood end it.
A mass sit-in is occurring at the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge. Tens of thousands of Ross’ and Snow geese have taken up residence at the refuge where they honk, squabble, soar, rest and dine.
On a trip to Wheatland, we continued north past orchards along CA-99 to Marysville and Yuba City, then west by CA-20 to Colusa and the refuge. Walnut orchards vary from Near Peak to Peak orange-yellow. The almond trees are still green.
Though the sight worth the drive are the birds. Best time to be there is at dawn and for the first few hours thereafter. By midday, the birds have settled down and except for a few geese and ducks spreading their wings, most are grounded. Still, the mass of birds spreading off into the distance is inspiring.
UC Davis has one of the finest art studies programs in the nation. No doubt its artists are inspired by what they see outside.
On a stroll in Davis today, Philip Reedy was certainly inspired and sends back these impressions of autumn’s end in the Central Valley.
Surrounded by flame-red flowering pear trees, the statue of a volunteer fireman in Yountville’s Van de Leur Park appears to be running away from the fire, though he’s actually running toward it.
He’d better hurry, as the flame of fall color is about to die out in the Napa Valley. Vishal Mishra reports the vineyards and trees are nearing past peak.
Finalists in California Fall Color’s first video contest (in no particular order) include:
Before continuing to read and learn who was selected to win California Fall Color’s first video contest, we hope you’ll view each of the above videos first, as they each deserve praise in their own right.
Following announcement of the winner is a review of what we found exceptional with each entry. In addition to being able to claim bragging rights, the winner will be sent a California Fall Color hat.
