Fall Color: Better late than never

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.

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.

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.

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.

This'Fuyu' persimmon provides the most reliable touch of foliage color in my entire garden

The messiest color is provided by this ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana).  It's still dropping leaves by the bucket loads.

Peeking over the hedge at the neighbor's garden reveals the brightest foliage in the neighborhood

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.

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