Quarantined by the Covid-19 pandemic and noxious wildfire smoke, Steve Shinn found beauty in his Long Beach backyard.
Apple, Long Beach (9/25/20) Steve Shinn
Hachiya persimmon, Long Beach (9/25/20) Steve Shinn
Autumn is the season of harvest and often overlooked are fruiting trees, like persimmon, apples and pomegranates which brighten farm trails and urban gardens.
Northern Mockingbird and Hachiya persimmon (9/25/20) Steve Shinn
Many of the fruit trees attract birds, which adds to the autumn show.
Sweetgum, Long Beach (9/25/20) Steve Shinn
Sweetgum impressions, Long Beach (9/25/20) Steve Shinn
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) are beginning to color up, across the state. I was at Jenkinson Lake at Sly Park (US 50) yesterday and found them splashed with hints of ruby, vermillion and gold. They are a long-lasting show, particularly when their leaves fall upon wet concrete. As Steve notes, “they make a memorable image.”
There are moments when an image arrives that changes perspective. One of those moments occurred Wednesday, when Philip Reedy sent this picture of an aspen leaf from the Hope Valley.
The leaf embodies the transition from summer to fall in an unexpected way.
Aspen leaves are not just yellow. California’s are yellow, gamboge, lurid, limey, orange, pink, crimson and, well, then there’s this leaf with all of them put together.
It’s one of the leaves Phil found in the Hope Valley on his travels along Hwy 88 on Wednesday. (Click to enlarge photographs)
Blue Lakes Rd Pasture, Hope Valley (9/23/20) Philip Reedy
Blue Lakes Rd Pasture, Hope Valley (9/23/20) Philip Reedy
Blue Lakes Rd Pasture, Hope Valley (9/23/20) Philip Reedy
Blue Lakes Rd Pasture, Hope Valley (9/23/20) Philip Reedy
Blue Lakes Rd Pasture, Hope Valley (9/23/20) Philip Reedy
Blue Lakes Rd Pasture, Hope Valley (9/23/20) Philip Reedy
Heading east on Hwy 88, at the Caples Lake Resort, Phil stopped to check on the status of the aspen grove, two miles past Silver Lake, that is often dazzling in its display of deep reds and oranges. He noted that “the grove usually turns later, and this year is no exception, as it is completely green.”
Similar greenness continued along 88 over Carson Pass and down to Red Lake, as was the stretch of aspen from Red Lake to Red Lake Creek Cabin. “Ditto for the aspen around the cabin and across the road along the creek,” Phil described though he “detected a bit of lime color around the cabin, so I imagine in a week it will begin coloring up.” This area usually peaks during the first full week of October, and it appears to be on track to do so this year.
From the cabin, down Hwy 88 to Blue Lakes Road, Reedy reports “little color.” However, the pasture north of the highway has many lush, healthy aspen loaded with Near Peak color.
The scene is a mix of fully turned to completely green trees. If photographing this area, most of the land is public, though there are some private (fenced) areas. The hike to the best of the trees is easy and flat. Reedy took a series looking back through the trees at the pasture.
Wylder Hope Valley Resort (9/23/20) Philip Reedy
Wylder Hope Valley Resort (9/23/20) Philip Reedy
Reedy then continued east on Hwy-88/89 to the recently renamed and remodeled Wylder Hope Valley (formerly Sorensen’s) Resort where he was surprised to see a lot of color. Many of the trees surrounding the resort have fully turned, though there’s still a week of peak color to be enjoyed.
Because of its extreme range of elevations, California is one of the few fall color destinations in North America where wildflowers appear concurrently with fall color. Reedy’s photographs show that contradiction blooming near the Wylder resort.
Mule-ear, Wylder Hope Valley Resort (9/23/20) Philip Reedy
Wylder Hope Valley Resort (9/23/20) Philip Reedy
Although it is in the Patchy range (Phil rates as 10 – 25%), the area surrounding the Wylder Resort as Near Peak and “should be even better in another week.” By then, he says, “perhaps the cabins will have some color around it, as well.”
Caples Lake (7,800′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Carson Pass (8,652′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Red Lake (7,861′)- Just Starting (0-10%)
Red Lake Creek Cabin (7,550′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Blue Lakes Rd (7,550′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Hope Valley (7,300′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Wylder Hope Valley Resort (7,000′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Groves near the resort vary from Near Peak to Just Starting.
Currant, Cuyamaca Ranch State Park, San Diego County (9/20/20) Mark Hanning-Lee
Willow, CA-79, Lake Cuyamaca (9/20/20) Mark Hanning-Lee
Cuyamaca Ranch State Park (9/20/20) Mark Hanning-Lee
Early fall is the time to combine woodpecker watching with fall color spotting in San Diego County, Mark Hanning-Lee reports.
Near the Paso Picacho Campground this week, Acorn Woodpeckers were busy hammering storage holes for their winter store of acorns, while county byways were blushing with rosy shrubs and lighting up with yellow willows.
Melampsora on Aspen, Martis Creek Meadow (9/23/20) Clayton Peoples
Martis Creek Meadow (9/23/20) Clayton Peoples
There’s a mystery occurring along Martis Creek (CA-267) between Kings Beach and Truckee.
Aspen that populate the meadow, near the remnants of an old cabin, are deceivingly orange. From a distance, they appear to be peaking, but they’re not. They’re diseased.
This meadow is visited often, mostly because of the cabin. It’s a popular place for portraiture (weddings, graduations) due to the distressed character of the cabin. The turnout is so popular that its once-small parking lot has been expanded to park several motor vehicles.
In autumn, particularly on early October weekends, the lot is filled with cars; a parade of people stroll out to the cabin or one of the groves to stand amidst the aspen as they rustle in the breeze.
Reno color spotter Clayton Peoples was there yesterday and drew the same conclusion I had a couple of weeks earlier when I visited. Martis Creek Meadow is Just Starting, but its leaves are frosted a dull orange by the leaf rust called Melampsoramedusae.
Martis Creek Meadow (9/23/20) Clayton Peoples
Mystery Solved: Melampsora russ afflicts aspen, poplar, cottonwood, willow and several specie of pine. Orange, powdery pistules on the backside of the leaf cause the coloration which is an infection resulting from continuous moisture being on the leaf for a period of from two to 24 hours, the US Forest Service explains. Sadly, considering its popularity, this grove has been tormented by afflictions.
Despite the Halloween-colored contagion, Clayton remains optimistic and adds, “not all is lost: many leaves look quite healthy and are likely to turn in the next week or two.”
He estimates peak is still two weeks off at this location, but considering the pandemic and national forest closures occurring south of Sonora Pass, this location does offer the promise of color at North Lake Tahoe and a reason, he writes, to “get out on a crisp clear morning and walk among the trees,” reminding us all that despite our troubles, “many things are proceeding in their normal course despite the things going on in the world around us.”
Martis Creek Meadow (CA-267) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Mountain Alder, CA-89 near Greenville Campground (9/22/20) Mark Atkinson
Bigleaf Maple, CA-89 near CA-70 Split (9/22/20) Mark Atkinson
Mountain Alder, CA-89 near Greenville Campground (9/22/20) Mark Atkinson
Some years back, Plumas County had a great ambassador, Suzi Brakken, who made sure her county wasn’t forgotten when it came to fall color.
Suzi would struggle, however, with the fact that CaliforniaFallColor.com would be reporting peak color on radio and TV in late September when Plumas’ Peak was still weeks away.
Today, Mark Atkinson demonstrated that if you are observant, brilliant spots of color can be found even well ahead of the main show.
Mark admits it’s “Just Starting” in Plumas County, but then this northern Sierra destination is full of surprises, including this preview of Plumas color.
Virginia Lakes Rd (9/22/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Virginia Lakes has received CaliforniaFallColor.com‘s first “Go Now!” with Near Peak fall color appearing along the upper section of the Virginia Lakes Road, at the Virginia Lakes Resort and ringing the shoreline of Virginia Lake.
Virginia Lakes Rd (9/22/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Virginia Lakes Rd (9/22/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Virginia Lakes Rd (9/22/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Virginia Lakes Resort (9/22/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Little Virginia Lake (9/22/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Little Virginia Lake (9/22/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Presently, northern Mono County is one of the few places in California to see Near Peak fall color, as the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is open. Inyo National Forest, Mono County’s Eastern Sierra neighbor to the south, remains closed, and CaliforniaFallColor.com just received notice that Inyo National Forest plans to extend the closure another week.
That means, the only easily accessible location to see peak fall color in the coming week in the Eastern Sierra will be at Virginia Lakes. Driving, hiking, camping and fishing are not allowed in closed national forests; that includes fall color viewing.
The Yosemite back country will have areas of peak, though that requires hiking at elevation, to see it. A little color should also be visible along the Tioga Road, above 9,000′. However, Yosemite National Park is closed at least through Sept. 25, due to heavy smoke.
Updates are posted on CaliforniaFallColor.com as received and at these sites:
Quaking Aspen, Virginia Lakes (9/22/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
NOW OPEN for fall color viewing in Mono County are: Virginia Lakes, Conway Summit, Green Creek, Summers Meadows, Twin Lakes Bridgeport, Sonora Pass, Lobdell Lake Road, West Walker River, Monitor Pass and the towns of Walker, Coleville and Topaz.
Most of these locations are Just Starting, especially along US 395. Patchy conditions are found at Monitor Pass, Sonora Pass and Dunderberg Meadows Rd.
Virginia Lakes is Peak of the Week with most of its trees at lake level and along upper sections of the Virginia Lakes Road full of gold.
Fall Color Driving Tour of the Week begins on the Virginia Lakes Road, then diverts to the Green Creek Loop via Dunderberg Meadows Road.
Here’s a rundown of fall color conditions, from north to south along US 395 in Mono County.
WALKER / COLEVILLE / TOPAZ
Monitor Pass (8,314′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Monitor Pass is a late peak among Sierra passes. Right now, it’s closer to 10% than 50%.
West Walker River, Walker, Coleville and Topaz (5,200′) – Just Starting (0-10%)
Sonora Pass (9,623′) – Patchy (10-50%) – Mostly green with some areas of yellow.
BRIDGEPORT / VIRGINIA LAKES
Twin Lakes (7,000′) – INYO NF CLOSED
Virginia Lakes (9,819’) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – Aspen are gilding the lakeshore, upper Virginia Lakes Rd. and Virginia Lakes Resort. It remains green at lower elevations.
Dunderberg Meadows Road – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now! – From the Virginia Lakes Rd. drive on Dunderberg Meadows Rd. toward Green Creek. The Virginia Lakes to Green Creek Loop via Dunderberg Meadows Road is Drive of the Week.
Conway Summit (8,143) – Just Starting (0-10%) One good patch of yellow trees way up on the hill but mostly green/lime green everywhere else.
Summers Meadow (7,200′) Just Starting (0-10%) – Just starting in the highest of elevations.
LEE VINING
Tioga Pass (9,943′) – YOSEMITE NP CLOSED
Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′) – INYO NF CLOSED
Lundy Lake & Canyon (7,858′) – INYO NF CLOSED
BENTON & 120 EAST
Sagehen Summit (8,139’) – INYO NF CLOSED
JUNE LAKE LOOP
June Lake Loop/Hwy 158 (7,654′) – INYO NF CLOSED
MAMMOTH LAKES
Mammoth Lakes Basin (8,996′) – INYO NF CLOSED
CROWLEY LAKE/McGEE CREEK/CONVICT LAKE
McGee Creek Canyon (8,600’) – INYO NF CLOSED
Around Crowley community (6,781′) – INYO NF CLOSED
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2020-09-23 09:52:352020-09-23 17:03:19Yes Virginia, There is an Autumn
It’s the first day of autumn. Fall color is nearing peak in the Eastern Sierra, but until an hour ago, we’d received no reports. Odd.
Actually, not so odd when you consider that all eight national forests south of the mid-Sierra, where much of the early color appears, remain closed.
Then, I spoke with a Bishop-area local who’d been in Bishop Creek Canyon this past Saturday. He said the aspen vary from 10 to 20% of peak, with Lake Sabrina Near Peak at about 70%.
The local said visiting the canyon was a surreal experience. The Owens Valley has become a catch-basin for haze from fires elsewhere in California, but at Lake Sabrina, North Lake and South Lake, the air is much clearer, and wildlife (bear, birds) were out in force. There was so much wildlife out and about that the local became uncomfortable hearing their calls and movement so close by.
On his two trips through the canyon, motor traffic was not being stopped though he saw two anglers (fishing in Bishop Creek) being visited fairly quickly by fish and game wardens; they soon left.
North Lake Rd (9/19/20) Gary Young
South Lake Rd. (9/19/20) Gary Young
South Lake Rd (9/19/20) Gary Young
CA-168, Below Lake Sabrina (9/19/20) Gary Young
CA-168, Below Lake Sabrina (9/19/20) Gary Young
N. Lake Turnoff (9/19/20) Gary Young
Considering that Inyo National Forest is closed, those intending to see or photograph fall color are advised to wait until the forest reopens – not expected to reopen until Oct. 1 – as you may be detained or fined for entering a closed forest.Driving, hiking, camping and fishing are not allowed in closed national forests. That includes fall color viewing.
Elsewhere along US 395, north of Conway Summit, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is open.
Virginia Lakes Rd (9/22/20) Jeff Simpson | Mono County Tourism
Virginia Lakes is Near Peak, but unlike Lake Sabrina, it can be visited. Lower elevations in the forest (Summers Meadow, Lobdell Lake Rd.) are Just Starting.
Bishop Creek Canyon – Just Starting (0-10%) to Near Peak (50-75%) – INYO NF CLOSED
Virginia Lakes (9,819′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
Fremont cottonwood and pepper berries, Davis (9/16/20) Philip Reedy
This week, Philip Reedy, Michelle Pontoni and I separately explored the noxious outdoors before the thermal inversion lifted. At the time, an oppressively dense haze from numerous California wildfires hung over California, keeping the Sun’s rays from brightening the landscape.
Instead, it draped a lackluster pall across the scene.
In Davis, Reedy found fallen Fremont cottonwood leaves resting among pepper berries and upon redwood branches, quiet beauty in an otherwise moribund atmosphere.
Scrub Quaking Aspen, South Lake Tahoe Bike Path (9/15/20) Michelle Pontoni
Pontoni found a more encouraging scene as she biked south a quarter mile on the Lake Tahoe Boulevard Bike Path from the corner of Lake Tahoe Blvd and Viking Road in South Lake Tahoe. Tiny Quaking Aspen, pushing up from the forest floor, were beginning to change color. Bikers, walkers, and strollers along the path were bombarded by Sugar Pine cones as afternoon winds picked up. She warned, “Wear a helmet!”
At Fallen Leaf lake, Pontoni reported seeing only one aspen full of yellow – all others were still “fully green.” Elsewhere, meadow brush were showing signs of change, painting the landscape with blended tones of lime-green, yellow, orange and russet.
In Tahoe City, red maple lifted their desiccated branches as if pleading for the subalpine lake’s normally clear skies to dissipate the gasses. As I passed Agate Bay, one could see only a hundred yards out into the brown-grey haze. Beyond it, there was only mystery and memories of Tahoe’s beauty.
I drove past Martis Creek’s derelict cabin on CA-267, its aspen enveloped in a foul air that both dulled and warmed their color, a mix of green, to lime, to pastel yellow, to sickly orange. Should it be photographed? Yes, but the scene was then too depressing to stop, unsaddle, gear up and take a photograph that would only leave me saddened.
This morning, I replied to a comment from travelgal485 which opined that perhaps this wasn’t the year to see California’s fall color. Having just experienced the suffocating, disheartening search for something bright and colorful, I was of a mind to agree, but recalled the lessons many years observing autumn have taught.
I answered, “Right now, it’s not the best time, but give it a day and it could be one of the most unbelievably beautiful years, ever. The reason it’s so disappointing, for the moment, are: forest closures (due to smoke and to allow USFS staff to focus on firefighting) and haze. However, both those conditions will change. Yesterday was the first clear day in a month in the Sacramento Valley, with an actual sunset seen along the Coast Range. If I’ve learned anything in more than 40 years writing about California’s fall color it’s what Heraclitus of Ephesus wrote 2,520 years ago, “the only constant is change.”
Davis – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
South Lake Tahoe / Fallen Leaf Lake – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
Tahoe City / Agate Bay / Martis Creek / Truckee – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
Flowering Pear and ornamental debris, Davis (9/16/20) Philip Reedy
Spanish Creek, Meadow Valley, Plumas County (9/13/20) Michael Beatley
When Nat King Cole sang about “Those lazy-crazy-hazy-days of summer” in 1963, he never had in mind what California has been experiencing this summer.
“Fall is trying to peek through the smoke in the Quincy/Meadow Valley area with the cottonwoods, as usual, showing off first,” Michael Beatley reported today.
Beatley continued, “The smoke index in Meadow Valley is at 682, very hazardous and off the chart. The visibility is often less than 1/2 mile.”
Of course, air quality is just a wisp of the problem that Plumas County is facing. “The Plumas National Forest is closed to camping, vehicles and hiking, and the Bucks Lake area has been evacuated and Meadow Valley is on warning status,” Beatley wrote.
“Those evacuated from East Quincy have now returned home, however La Porte Rd. is closed and the town of La Porte and Little Grass Valley Reservoir have been evacuated, too,” he added.
“Hwy 70, along the Feather River from Butte County to Quincy is also closed as the Bear has met up with the footprint of the Camp fire 2 years ago.
“Winds are expected to start again today, but this time from the southwest, which will drive the fire directly towards Meadow Valley and Quincy,” Beatley predicted.
Spanish Creek, Meadow Valley, Plumas County (9/13/20) Michael Beatley
Michael is packed and ready to flee. His camera will be riding with him, though he first braved the poisonous air this morning, to snap these images of Meadow Valley and Spanish Creek in the haze.
Meadow Valley, Spanish Creek – Just Starting (0-10%)
Bigleaf Maple, Spanish Creek (10/14/17) Michael Beatley
Over 75 volunteer “color spotters” (our term for contributors) submit photographs and reports to CaliforniaFallColor.com in a typical autumn.
To be one of them is easy. Email photos within a few days of when taken* to editor@californiafallcolor.com. Always include the photographer’s name, date the photo was taken and the location where the photo was taken.
Each Thursday, I send comprehensive reports of fall color and a collection of the Best of the Week photographs to over 500 media across California. To assure that your submissions are eligible to be included in these reports, I need your photographs and reports not later than Wednesday night.
Photos should be high resolution**, particularly if you’d like them considered as one of CaliforniaFallColor.com’s Best of the Week. Each week from the first day of autumn until the Thursday preceding Thanksgiving Day, the week’s best photos are (with photographer’s permission) sent to major broadcast and print media; they won’t accept any photo less than 300 dpi in size.
Please note: We are unable to compensate photographers for use of their images, but always credit the photographer for his/her work. Publication of photographs on CaliforniaFallColor.com has benefitted many contributors who have had their photographs republished, leading to broader recognition/exposure, enhanced resumes/reputation, paid compensation from others and/or retail sales, not to mention bragging rights.
Reports should include: % of color change for the location being reported (e.g., North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon) – not for a specific tree or shrub (expressed as: Just Starting, 0-10%; Patchy, 10-50%; Near Peak, 50-75%; Peak, 75-100%; or Past Peak), the name of the location, roads (e.g., take Rock Creek Rd. east from US 395), date visited and any helpful information (e.g., “The trail is steep for the first 500′. but then levels out for the two mile hike to the lake. A grove of peaking aspen is found at the western side the lake trail.”).
If you know the foliage seen in the photo (particularly if it is unusual or wouldn’t be evident to us), please describe it (e.g., aspen, bigleaf maple, black oak, silver willow, etc.).
We will make every effort to publish your report, particularly if it is from an unusual or lightly reported destination. When multiple photographs are received from heavily visited locations, we are able only to publish the first received, the best or the most unusual.
Occasionally, we will post a portfolio of historic photos*, but often only on Friday or when fresh images have not been received. Photos may be cropped or adjusted for best presentation.
CaliforniaFallColor.com’s style is vivid and photojournalistic. Images that tell a story or that show human activity in relation to autumn are best.
Reports and photos can also be posted on CaliforniaFallColor’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Though, emailing photos and reports to editor@californiafallcolor.com is the best way to get them on this site, and the only way to get them considered as one of the Best of the Week.
Thank you and happy wandering!
* The sooner a photograph and report are sent to us, the more likely it will be published, because it shows what is likely to be seen now at the location. Photographs taken more than a week ago aren’t really useful and cannot be included in Best of the Week collections sent to media. Historic photos, like Michael Beatley’s shot of Spanish Creek (seen above), are published – on occasion – days or even years after they were taken, but only to illustrate an article that is not time-sensitive.
**A high resolution photo is one that is 300 dpi (dots per inch). A photograph of 1 megabyte or larger is usually large enough to be considered to be high resolution. Please don’t hesitate sending a photograph just because it isn’t 300 dpi. Pictures taken with mobile devices often get included in our reports, when the device has been set to shoot a large picture. 72 dpi images (set for websites and devices) are too small for reproduction in print media.
http://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.png00John Poimiroohttp://www.californiafallcolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/logo-1.pngJohn Poimiroo2020-09-13 08:00:002020-09-12 15:34:09How to Submit Photos and Reports
