This has been a strange year indeed. The world around is not behaving as it has over our time living here. We have signs all around us that may indicate an early fall. Tell me what you think, and look around your neck of the woods and see if you see what I see! Then please do comment if you see signs too!
By this time I would be posting photos of huge plants in my vegetable garden, but this year my tomatoes: One is still 6″ tall, and the other two, are maybe a foot tall. My corn (do you remember the photos from last year?) are maybe a foot and a half tall and are flowering. The zucchini plants are maybe one foot in circumference, and the acorn squash are still 6 inches. The peppers are no bigger than they were at the end of May, and reach 6″ high. Yes this is in the lasagne garden! No garden photos as it is a bit embarrassing!
One of the first things I noticed is that the Chinese Maple is turning color. Here we are at the end of July and this tree does not change color until late September, early October.
The Chinese Maples are turning color
My Virginia creepers are turning red. They do not turn red, in normal conditions, until October as well.
The Virginia creepers are turning red
As we hit September, the Digger Pines start to shed, which means needles start to turn brown. When the rains and winds hit in late October early November, they fall and create a lot of work for us. Here is a shot of one of the many Digger Pines in our yard. They are ready to shed needles.
The Digger Pines are shedding two months early
Our Poplar is turning gold and so are others in the neighborhood.
Poplars going gold!
There is a plant in the garden at the winery, and the name of this plant is Spirea. It turns beautiful shades of red in the fall. The leaves are starting to turn as this photo shows.
Spirea are starting to change color
The black walnut trees are dropping leaves and the fruit seems to be starting to dry out, which they need to do before the nuts fall. What do you think about the leaves on this tree?
The Black Walnut leaves are going gold
One of the typical sights that we see here in late September are the tent moths forming their webs in the black walnut trees. They showed up this week. This is not the best photo, and the web looks like a face, but here is a tent moth web. There are already at least a dozen on the road on my way to work.
Tent moth webs are early
So, I have already mentioned that the Digger Pines are shedding, but did I mention that the Redwoods are too?
The Redwoods are shedding too!
Here is one final shot for you. This one is in the American River Canyon. The leaves on these trees are turning a golden brown!
Trees in the canyon are changing color
We also have flowers here that are called Naked Ladies. In some areas these are past their prime in blooming and starting to fade. These do not come up until the end of August! As I said in a previous post, we are anticipating harvest of the wine grapes to begin two weeks earlier than in a normal season. Are these signs that fall is coming early? You tell me!
Thank you for visiting today and have a fantastic Thursday!
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Are These Signs of an Early Fall?
Posted in Commentary, Life in the Foothills, Photos, tagged Beauty, Fall, Gardening, Life, Life in the Foothills, Nature, Photography, Photography (2), Photos, Placerville, Seasons, Sierra Foothills, Weather, Whimsy on July 25, 2013| 33 Comments »
This has been a strange year indeed. The world around is not behaving as it has over our time living here. We have signs all around us that may indicate an early fall. Tell me what you think, and look around your neck of the woods and see if you see what I see! Then please do comment if you see signs too!
By this time I would be posting photos of huge plants in my vegetable garden, but this year my tomatoes: One is still 6″ tall, and the other two, are maybe a foot tall. My corn (do you remember the photos from last year?) are maybe a foot and a half tall and are flowering. The zucchini plants are maybe one foot in circumference, and the acorn squash are still 6 inches. The peppers are no bigger than they were at the end of May, and reach 6″ high. Yes this is in the lasagne garden! No garden photos as it is a bit embarrassing!
One of the first things I noticed is that the Chinese Maple is turning color. Here we are at the end of July and this tree does not change color until late September, early October.
The Chinese Maples are turning color
My Virginia creepers are turning red. They do not turn red, in normal conditions, until October as well.
The Virginia creepers are turning red
As we hit September, the Digger Pines start to shed, which means needles start to turn brown. When the rains and winds hit in late October early November, they fall and create a lot of work for us. Here is a shot of one of the many Digger Pines in our yard. They are ready to shed needles.
The Digger Pines are shedding two months early
Our Poplar is turning gold and so are others in the neighborhood.
Poplars going gold!
There is a plant in the garden at the winery, and the name of this plant is Spirea. It turns beautiful shades of red in the fall. The leaves are starting to turn as this photo shows.
Spirea are starting to change color
The black walnut trees are dropping leaves and the fruit seems to be starting to dry out, which they need to do before the nuts fall. What do you think about the leaves on this tree?
The Black Walnut leaves are going gold
One of the typical sights that we see here in late September are the tent moths forming their webs in the black walnut trees. They showed up this week. This is not the best photo, and the web looks like a face, but here is a tent moth web. There are already at least a dozen on the road on my way to work.
Tent moth webs are early
So, I have already mentioned that the Digger Pines are shedding, but did I mention that the Redwoods are too?
The Redwoods are shedding too!
Here is one final shot for you. This one is in the American River Canyon. The leaves on these trees are turning a golden brown!
Trees in the canyon are changing color
We also have flowers here that are called Naked Ladies. In some areas these are past their prime in blooming and starting to fade. These do not come up until the end of August! As I said in a previous post, we are anticipating harvest of the wine grapes to begin two weeks earlier than in a normal season. Are these signs that fall is coming early? You tell me!
Thank you for visiting today and have a fantastic Thursday!
Read Full Post »