Coastal Southern California isn't known for its fall foliage color. However, looking back at posts from prior years, it appears that I usually uncover traces of it sometime in November. That didn't happen this year but perhaps I was just distracted, or maybe the sharp cold snap that accompanied the so-called
bomb cyclone in late November did the trick at last. In any case, here are local examples of the fall color I captured in December before winter officially moved in.
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| I almost missed the orange and gold tones of the this peach tree at the bottom of our back slope. The tree, planted by some prior owner and uncovered when we removed the Yucca elephantipes that had taken over the entire area, has never produced mature fruit but it does put on a pretty display late in the year. |
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| These potted blueberries are a bit of a cheat. While I've had blueberries on the back patio for years, I replaced my original plants this year once our remodel was mostly finished. |
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| I rescued a smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple') on a 50% off sale three years ago. It's still rather spindly but it produced some nice color this year. |
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| This 'Fuyu' persimmon provides the most reliable touch of foliage color in my entire garden |
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| The messiest color is provided by this ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana). It's still dropping leaves by the bucket loads. |
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| Peeking over the hedge at the neighbor's garden reveals the brightest foliage in the neighborhood |
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| A mix of gingko and maple trees |
I hope you enjoyed a marvelous holiday and that you have an opportunity to continue to bask in its glow through the coming weekend - or the warmth of a heating pad, if that's your preference.
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| Thanks to all of you who sent Pipig your best wishes. She's finally free of stitches, bandages and that awful plastic cone, and she loves her heating pad, which I imagine compensates some for her fur-less chest. |
All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Oh, precious Pipig looks soo content. Happy for her - and for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandy! Her recovery made for a much more pleasant Christmas for both of us.
DeleteAw, Pipig looks so comfortable sprawled out on the heating pad. I sometimes get abdominal cramps and a heating pad is the best. I enjoyed your fall color photos too. We had a low-key holiday, hope you had a lovely day too.
ReplyDeleteAfter our smorgasbord a few days before Christmas, the holiday itself was quiet and peaceful, Alison. I even did some gardening before the rain arrived.
DeleteSo glad Pipig is feeling better. This is how I feel the day after the Christmas rush. All the best of the season to you Kris
ReplyDeletePipig's acting like nothing ever happened, Elaine. I wish I could live entirely in the present like that!
DeleteSweet Pipig! I am glad she is continuing to recover well. Who wouldn't love a cosy heating pad? :)
ReplyDeleteShe's obsessed with her heating pad, Eliza!
DeleteIt seems so strange to see your fall color when fall seems so far behind us here in Ohio. Everything is brown and colorless, unless it's white with snow. Right now it is unseasonably warm and feels a lot like spring, but I'll take it since cold is not far behind.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see sweet Pipig recovering and free of her cone. My Moby still is wearing his cone. He is tolerating it, and hopefully soon I can take it off.
Happy New Year!!!
I'm sorry your Moby isn't also cone-free, Cindy. I hope he doesn't bump into walls the way Pipig did.
DeleteVery happy to see Pipig looking so comfortable and relaxed. We were driving today with the car's seat heaters on...ahh, felt so good!
ReplyDeleteNice fall color in your photos. The 'Fuyu' is a beauty. There are a couple Ginkgos in the neighborhood here--their autumn gold is reliable.
The Gingkos in the neighbor's yard are stand-outs, showing up even the maples. I wish I had a spot for one.
DeleteSo happy Pipig is doing well! She looks perfectly blissed out. And, who wouldn't be on top of a heated pad... So glad you have a Cotinus. They produce some of my favorite fall foliage ever. I hope it fills out a little, soon - it's an asset to any fall garden. Oh, and I envy your neighbor's fall colored Ginko trees. That is the most fantastic yellow I know of... Happy Holidays, Kris!
ReplyDeleteI have to look into pruning Cotinus, Anna. The bush is really lopsided at present.
DeletePipig sure is a sweetheart! I'm glad she's doing well. :) I wouldn't have thought you'd have fall color at all, but you certainly do. I would love to have blueberry plants that lush and full, but I thin I need a little more sun. One of my potted blueberries seems to be doing OK, but two others didn't even make it through the summer, but maybe I need more drainage in the pots. This is a lovely post, Kris!
ReplyDeleteThe 'Bountiful Blue' blueberries in pots have done particularly well here, Beth, at least for a 4-5 years. They're a low-chill variety, a necessity here, but I don't imagine you need that!
DeletePipig looks content lying there on the heating pad. Good to see she looks almost back to normal. Lots of color in your neighborhood. I would like to try some blue berries in pots. This little nugget has given me an inspiration for this spring.
ReplyDeleteThe blueberries do well in pots for several years, Lisa. The squirrels get a lot of the fruit but there's still enough for periodic snacks and I think the bushes themselves are rather pretty.
DeleteHi Kris, I am glad your kitty is recovering well. Best wishes for Pipig's future! Your Fuyu persimmon is gorgeous. My 2 Asian persimmons are still young and only produced a dozen or so fruits this year, since most of the fruit buds were killed by a late frost this spring. A teen was helping my husband in the yard one day and expressed how much he liked their flavor. I came in looking forward to eating fresh persimmons and to baking a couple loaves of persimmon bread, to discover that my kind-hearted hubby had picked all the fruit and given it to our young friend! I could not fault him, and we did get to enjoy their fall color.
ReplyDeleteAlthough one of our 2 persimmon trees (the 'Hachiya' cultivar) bore a good crop of persimmons this year, as usual the raccoons and squirrels got most of the fruit. (The fruit on the 'Fuyu' never came anywhere close to ripening before it was snatched.) I didn't know the fruit could be used to make bread - I'll have to guard it more rigorously and look into making bread next year.
DeleteOh that shot of Pipig is the best! I'm so glad I got to make her acquaintance.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry she wasn't more welcoming, Loree! She wants to meet people on her own terms it seems...
DeleteLove to see Pipig sprawled out and blissfully relaxed
ReplyDeleteMe too, Diana! A day in the hospital and more than 10 days in her post-surgical garb had her pretty stressed.
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