The east side of the Sierra Nevada in the Lee Vining, CA. area along highway 395 is done. Went up there yesterday and went down to June Lake Loop north of Mammoth, and up over Conway Summit and the aspens are done for this year. Trees near Conway Summit were completely denuded except for a few sporadic clumps of trees in isolated areas, nothing to make a special trip for.
In Yosemite things are a bit late, but the aspens in Yosemite valley are also done. The storm in mid-Oct. must have stripped them clean. Dogwoods are late, but trees in predominantly shaded areas of Southside drive (Fern Spring, etc) are at peak. The tall oaks near Yosemite Village are late and turning now, still yellow-green.
shockingly still lots of leaves in many parts of NJ (where there are still trees left that is, 12-19" snow on leafed out trees = bad), insanely weird fall, some fell about as early as ever and yet now others are turning later than ever, in all cases the color is average at best and most well, well, well sub-standard though in most areas
most of the northern woodlands are def past peak now though, some well well past
We are not quite deep into Fall right now, but we are actually going to get a freeze either tonight or tomorrow and I'm afraid that will kill whatever colors we have right now so did decide to take a few captures today. Here are 2 that I just finished oversaturating (8 more to go; if I didn't, the colors would have been quite dull). lol
Morris Plains NJ and Morristown area have good peak color on the little city maple and japanese maple type trees now, this area is hot and turns way later
City of Maples looks fantastic today. Some of the most intense colors it has ever shown. QUite a contrast to all the natural forest area in NJ highlands which had perhaps worst color ever this year (and are well past peak now).
The Portland/Vancouver area has had some simply amazing colors through this last week but the storms that started rolling in as of Friday afternoon have blown down a lot of the leaves and the upcoming weather pattern is starting to look like our rainy season has finally arrived.
