Fall Colors in the Bay Area

Is it just me, or is this one of the most beautiful fall seasons we have had for a long time? Rains in October and early November have plumped up drought desiccated leaves and foliage; moss and polypodium are flourishing in bright green; and the late afternoon light seems especially warm and golden.

The San Francisco Bay Area (and California in general), is not known for fantastic fall colors, or any seasons at all for that matter. However, to the observant, there is a brief shift in nature that could pass for fall. Here are a few of the trees and plants that I’ve observed growing in the Bay Area and exhibiting “fall colors”.

Left: Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Center top: Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis)

Center middle: Raywood Ash, Claret Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia)

Center bottom: Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica and cultivars)

Right: Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera)

Granted, it’s not like the fall colors in Vermont, and other destinations known for their seasons, but I’d like to make a case for planting a few items in the garden that mimic fall colors!

Thanksgiving Turkey Hunt

For the last month I have been hunting for turkeys in Dublin, California. I leave the office for my late afternoon walks, armed with my camera, and on the lookout turkeys!

Several turkeys wander through a business park in Dublin, CA

About this time every year, a rafter of wild turkeys assembles to forage for food. They roam the open land near the Camp Parks training ground, and the new Alameda County, East County Hall of Justice. They invade the landscaped areas of nearby business parks. The turkeys seem equal parts wary and curious, but mostly intent on a good meal.

Wild turkeys forage for food

Apparently, turkeys can become aggressive, especially around mating season, but the ones I encounter raise their heads briefly to asses me, and then go back to their acorns, seeds, berries, small amphibians, and bulbs. Wild turkeys are beautiful and fascinating to watch.

A rafter of turkeys near Camp Parks

Hoping you have a delicious Thanksgiving, surrounded by family and friends. Thank God for life, be grateful for your blessings, and hold on to hope through the inevitable rough patches!

Seed Gallery (Alaska Ark)

I am taking advantage of my dad’s latest project of collecting seeds from all over the Western United States, by photographing some of the seeds using my Plugable Digital Microscope (a gift from my wonderful husband). Together we’re creating an informal ark of seeds and images!

Below is another gallery of seeds, this time collected from my folk’s garden in Southeast Alaska. As we’ve discussed before, gardening is tricky in Southeast Alaska because of the short growing season (albeit long summer days), and lots of rain, but my mom and dad have a beautiful garden every summer. See: Little House in Southeast Alaska, and Rainforest Gardening.

This time I scrapped the light table to illuminate the seeds from below, but am still experimenting with lighting and focusing techniques from above [compare with Seed Gallery (California Ark)]. These seeds are quite small, so I’m providing individual and group shots. Note that these seeds are not Alaska natives (although there is a native dandelion subspecies—ssp. ceratophorum). Still, the plants are hardy enough to survive the rigors of Southeast Alaska, so they are included in the Alaska ark!

Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove seeds and dried leaf bit; 1/4 inch grid)	Foxglove (group shot)
Leucanthemum x superba (Shasta Daisy seeds and dried flower bit)	Shasta Daisy (group shot)
Taraxicum officinale (Dandelion seeds and parachutes)	Dandelion (group shot)

HTML Tables

Seed Gallery (California Ark)

For the last year or so, my dad (the consummate naturalist and forester) has been working on a seed gathering project. Collecting seeds is a great idea, both for plant propagation in our gardens, and for preservation. Seed banks help preserve genetic diversity, provide a source for plant breeders, protect heritage plant varieties, and provide a seed source in case of natural disasters or war. In my dad’s case, I suspect he is just having pure, science fun!

Here is a gallery of some of the seeds collected throughout California. The pictures are taken with my Plugable Digital Microscope. I’m still working on techniques for using the tool to take botanical photos. In this case, I tried using a light table below the seed, but not sure it adds much (compare with Zooming In).

Pimpenella anisum (Anise)	Encelia farinose (Brittle Bush)
Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm)	Yucca brevifolia (Joshua Tree)
Marah macrocarpus (Wild Cucumber)	Unidentified - grass-like plant

HTML Tables

Plant Propagation – Dividing

A couple of months ago we changed our “Birds and Bees” series from sexual reproduction to asexual reproduction (see Plant Propagation– Cuttings, and Plant Propagation – Runners). We learned that asexual reproduction results in an offspring that is a genetic clone of its parent. Some plants produce offsets in the form of a new plant or bulbs.

Gardeners can benefit from these plant habits, by dividing a clump or digging up the bulbs, and replanting. Here are a couple of division projects I worked on this summer, using Jack Kraemer’s Grow Your Own Plants as my inspiration and guide.

Agapanthus spp. (Agapanthus)

I love Agapanthus. Our home came with a good collection of blue and white Agapanthus, and I have encouraged their growth all over the property. Some decry them as being common, and non-native. But I find them amazing and indestructible – thriving in both drought and monsoon.

Agapanthus originated in Southern Africa. They are monocots, and grow in clumps, sometimes even above soil. Periodically I dig up the clumps, and divide them by teasing apart their fleshy roots. They transplant easily to other garden beds, or to containers.

Agapanthus transplants

Agapanthus offsets ready to pull apart

HTML Tables

Crocosmia spp. (Crocosmia)

Our friends, Keith and Beth (both avid gardeners working their steep, terraced backyard) gave us some Crocosmia corms soon after we moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. Beth warned me that the plants are a bit invasive, so I planted them in a large container. Here in the Bay Area, the plants grow, flower, and die back twice a year. They bring a dash of orange color to the back patio when in bloom, and the long, strappy leaves catch the light in a beautiful way.

Crocosmia is native to the grasslands of Southern and Eastern Africa, from South Africa to Sudan. They are monocots, and grow from underground corms (often in chains, with the youngest corm on top and the oldest buried in the soil). The leaves have parallel veins, characteristic of monocots. Periodically I dig up the corms, thinning them out to give the remainder a little more room.

Crocosmia in a container

Crocosmia corms (and seeds)

HTML Tables

This brings our Plant Propagation series to an end for the year. We have barely scratched the surface of the topic, so look for more articles and projects in the future. In the meantime, I encourage you to look for ways to propagate your favorite plants. Redistribute the clones in your own garden, swap them with friends for genetic diversity, or give them away as gifts. You’ll save some money, spread some cheer, and participate in fun and practical science at the same time!