LA doesn't have an autumn? (Santa Ana, Pasadena: live in, best place, palm trees)

[robertpasa]

I've been here three years. It seems like there's no period with a lot of dead leaves on the ground plus cooler weather. Not like when I lived in SF and Oct-Nov was like that. Oct. here is mostly as warm as Sept.

I think's it's also because there are so many palm trees and of course they don't drop the red dead leaves.

BTW the past 3 weeks have been abnormally cold. Aug. 2012, in Pasadena, was 90 or higher for two weeks in a row. That's warmer than the two Augusts before it.

[harhar]

Yes, there is an autumn. I've raked my fair share of leaves to prove it.

It will start to get warm soon, don't worry.

[BRinSM]

LA doesn't have the native deciduous trees like you see further east in the country, thus not many falling leaves. having said that, autumn exists. while the heat may continue through october and sometimes november, there is a noticeable chill in the mornings and evenings that you don't see in the summer. you'll also know it's autumn when the santa ana winds start blowing.

[andrecle]

The only part of LA where I've seen a lot of deciduous trees is on the Westside in the Rancho Park area

[mrsltd]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

LA doesn't have the native deciduous trees like you see further east in the country, thus not many falling leaves. having said that, autumn exists. while the heat may continue through october and sometimes november, there is a noticeable chill in the mornings and evenings that you don't see in the summer. you'll also know it's autumn when the santa ana winds start blowing.

Um, yes it does....sycamores, cottonwoods, walnut trees.....alder, aspen.

And in some areas sweet gum and maple (there is some native maple as well in certain places) are planted, along with oak, birch and elm.

Certainly not enough to have a "leaf peeping industry" as does New England (and is much later here when they turn noticeably) but they are around.

The best places in Southern California to see a glorious autumn display would be in the mountains or the high desert. Cottonwoods especially along 395; glorious billows of yellow.

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by robertpasa

I've been here three years. It seems like there's no period with a lot of dead leaves on the ground plus cooler weather. Not like when I lived in SF and Oct-Nov was like that. Oct. here is mostly as warm as Sept.

I live in SF, So Cal's so-called Fall season is nothing like the Autumn up in SF area. I feel So Cal's Winter season is more like Nor Cal's Fall season - 5 degrees.

BTW the past 3 weeks have been abnormally cold. Aug. 2012, in Pasadena, was 90 or higher for two weeks in a row. That's warmer than the two Augusts before it.

Yep and I am totally enjoying it for the most part but this Winter will likely to be really cold.
What worries me is it will get really warm all of a sudden with a few rainy days in between which would mean earth....

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by andrecle

The only part of LA where I've seen a lot of deciduous trees is on the Westside in the Rancho Park area

sweetgums (liquidambar) primarily (native to the southeast).

Although they are planted all over the region. I guess they're slightly more drought tolerant than other eastern deciduous hardwoods. They do have a little fall color.

The most common native deciduous tree planted is the sycamore, which are found wild in all canyon bottoms in the region. Many other smaller plants do turn a bright red, including the justly feared poison oak.

[pwright1]

Yes, LA indeed has a fall season. Over in Holby Hills its very fallish looking in early November.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

There is definitely an Autumn in LA. The only thing is, it lasts for months. That makes it much less intense. It starts with the Buckeyes and ends with the Willows. Buckeyes are already nearly bare. Willows may never lose all their leaves. In CA the native Willow species tend to drop leaves from Aug until about April. By April they are nearly bare but not completely, then the new growth starts with no drop for a few months. One might argue there are really two seasons, Spring and Fall.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by robertpasa

Oct. here is mostly as warm as Sept.

Traditional Santa Ana wind month, also well into Nov. Crisp fall days are rare.