I made it out to Happy Canyon and Sunset Valley Roads on Sunday to photograph fall color along the creeks by the sides of those roads. There were some wonderful displays here and there, and I may have erred in some of the images with respect to identifying Sycamore and Big-leaf Maple leaves where it was difficult to discern defining shapes in the photos.

(Big-leaf Maple along Happy Canyon Road)

(California Sycamore along Sunset Valley Road)

Many of the fall leaves will probably be on the ground after this week’s rain. On Sunday, at the slightest breeze, dozens would float and meander to the ground, where they would often fall on the new leaves of plants preparing to bloom in the spring.

(New leaves of Fiesta Flower among fallen leaves)

Some of the new leaves photographed were of Fiesta Flower, Imbricate Phacelia, California Thistle and Larkspur.

(New leaves of Larkspur)

Flowering plants include continuers from this fall such as California Fuschia, Long-stemmed Buckwheat and Bush Groundsel, and some of the early leaders for the approaching spring, e.g.  Chaparral Currant, California Bay and White Alder.

(Chaparral Currant)

Dried flowers photographed were Golden Eardrops, Larkspur at the base of which new leaves were growing, and most impressive of all, the seeds and empty flowers of Scale Broom. (Sometimes I can only identify the dried flowers by remembering the plant locations from spring and summer.)

(Dried flowers of Scale Broom)

Having not had vacation in a few years, I hope to take advantage of the rain this season to get out into the back country as much as possible to hopefully photograph fantastic and abundant flower displays. Who knows if one will get the chance again.

Slideshow

• Click here to see more photos of Fall 2009

Video

• Sounds and sights of Fall