Fall Color Still Peaking

Here at the Arboretum we have a fall color season. It's not a punctuated, Rose Parade season like the east coast or the Sierras gets where all the trees that turn color do so in a blazing display of overwhelming reds, oranges, yellows and hot pinks (the color of dogwoods when they turn), instead ours is a lazy, slow moving parade put together by the local chamber of commerce where one float after another slowly rolls by, separated by marching bands blooming trees and aloes. 

Crepe myrtle tree with red fall foliage. 

Yellow fall foliage on these Crepe myrtles. 

Wisteria vine turning color as it drapes over bamboo plants. 

California native grapevine; a brilliant red performer in the fall as it drapes over 60 foot tall palms. 

Various fall color trees in the Meadowbrook section. 

Ginkgo biloba 'Canopy'

Carpet of spent leaves under Ginkgo biloba 'Canopy'

Ginkgo biloba 'Saratoga' in the herb garden. 

Ginkgo biloba 'Cleveland'

Chinaberry tree in the foreground, Ginkgo biloba 'Cleveland' in the background.

Formosan Sweet Gum, Liquidambar taiwanensis

Jawdropping Fall Color at the Arboretum

There, I've used a Buzzfeed keyword; it is well deserved however. Right now we're probably looking at the last gasp of really spectacular fall color until next year; this is because the heavy rain predicted for this evening may just well knock off most of the fall foliage that is currently peaking here at the Arboretum.

A species Liquidambar near the Peacock cafe. 

Crepe myrtle in full color near the Peacock Cafe. 

Aloes starting to bloom in the South African section. 

Crepe myrtle (right) and Persian ironwood (left)

Persian ironwood. 

Wild wisteria vine growing on trees on the north edge of the Tropical forest section. 

Wild wisteria and wild grape vines clambering on foliage on the north side of the Tropical forest. 

Pink Handroanthus paulensis blooms (right) surrounded by white Shaving brush tree blooms. 

Pink Handroanthus paulensis  and white Pseudobombax ellipticum blooms on the east shore of the Baldwin lagoon. 

Ginkgo biloba tree framing Cycads. 

Ginkgo biloba tree framing Cycads. 

Dying Maple (maybe) Tree

Q. I have this maple tree (I think) has been deciduous since October 2015 and one small branch has a few leaves in the spring. But now it seems to be dying. Can you give me some input what to do? Totally cut down or wait and see? I appreciate your input, thanks!

A. The tree (I think you have a Liquidambar not a maple), appears to be quite dead. The fact it has not leafed out by now is a major consideration in this. You need to take it out as soon as possible as dead trees are 100% likely to fail in the next several years. It is important that you chip the tree completely to pieces that are one inch or less and solarize the chippings for at least 6 weeks (in winter at least three months: see solarizing guide on second page of pamphlet here ) so that if the tree was infested with Polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) it does not infest other trees. Many maples and the Liqudambar tree are hosts for PSHB.