Sunday, December 13, 2009

FALLING LEAVES IN DECEMBER



Photo taken Dec. 1, Richmond, California

This photo reminds me of the times when I used to go trick or treating. I would kick up all the leaves that had fallen on the ground just like you see in this picture. Most of the leaves make it to the ground by the end of October. In the Northeast, that is. However, in the San Francisco Bay Area it is a different story. Aside from its other unique features such as micro-climates and geeks galore, is its unique fall season. We are not exactly like Southern California where the trees stay green all year round. In Northern California not all the deciduous trees bare during the winter like they do in the Northeastern United States. The Bay Area, in addition to other parts of central and northern California has half and half. Half of the leaves stay on the trees (such as citrus) and the other half change. They don't really turn color until the month of November. And by December, half of the leaves are on the ground. It's December 13th and colored leaves are still hanging on the trees, but are falling every minute. I know that because some of them like to creep into my apartment through the door, especially on rainy days making my entryway all messy. Of course, people living in the real cold states reading this would like to wring my neck. I can feel for them since I grew up in such harsh winter conditions in New York. Now that I look at our long late California autumn, I no longer get a weird feeling about it. I was so intrigued by it in the past because California winter is really like a very long autumn. After 12 years living in California it's a scene like any other season that becomes normal to my eyes. It no longer phases me. I adjusted to it as the norm. I have reached that stage when seeing palm trees also. It took a long time, but now, the sight of them is normal to me. When I visit family in New York, it feels weird when I don't see palm trees. It's definitely a habitat thing. I'd like to know how all of you from the North would feel seeing a late autumn? Or green leaves remaining on the trees all through January?

3 comments:

  1. Very colorful. Our leaves weren't so hot due to a very dry summer. Maybe next year.

    Malcolm

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  2. Gorgeous photo! Growing up in San Jose, I
    always felt like our winters were "missing" something -- namely, snow. I'd hear Christmas songs about snow, see pictures of snow, hear about people going sledding and building snowmen, and it was all foreign to me. I think part of the reason I went to Syracuse for grad school was so I could experience "real seasons." But now I see that Bay Area seasons are beautiful, too; we're just different. :) ~Becky

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  3. Even though I remember the snow during the holidays, I still feel now living here that something's missing. But I don't miss four months of it!

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