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)

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