Who says that fall is boring/monochromatic here in SoCal? We have a multitude of deciduous trees, both native and otherwise, that are or will be manifesting their striking, senescent fall colors just about now. And so long as you plant the right stuff, they will bloom and go to town for you in the fall season. Proof positive, check out these fall blooms happening in the garden: 11/18/12 View from the back patio. Leaves of the cottonwoods are turning yellow - Southern California's version of Aspens. 11/1/12 Blue Texas Ranger/Blue Ranger (Leucophyllum zygophyllum). Texas Rangers are tough, drought tolerant, frost tolerant denizens of the Chihuahuan Desert of Texas and Mexico. They have stunning bluish flowers, cupped leaves, and a smaller growing habit (around 3') than most Texas Rangers. This beauty is growing next to a 'Burgundy' Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis) just off the driveway. 11/1/12 'Rio Bravo' Texas Ranger (Leucophyllum langmaniae), next to a youngish Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia), just off the driveway. 11/1/12 'Heavenly Cloud' Texas Ranger (Leucophyllum langmaniae x L. frutescens). 11/1/12 'Sierra Bouquet' Texas Ranger (Leucophyllum pruinosum). One of the most fragrant of the Texas Rangers, growing next to 'Lutsko's Pink' Manzanita and 'Tassajara Blue' Ceanothus. 10/30/12 'Green Cloud' Texas Ranger (Leucophyllum frutescens). Next to Hana's dog run. 10/27/12 Spice Islands Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis cv). 10/27/12 Argentine Hedgehog/Red Torch Cactus (Echinopsis huascha). A shrubby cactus from N. Argentina, with beautiful scarlet flowers. Bought this one from the UCR Botanic Garden's spring plant sale earlier this year. Seems to be doing ok so far in our DG. 10/27/12 California Aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia). Native to the property. 10/30/12 Mimulus Purple Hybrid. 10/30/12 Mexican Marigold (Tagetes lemonii). 10/30/12 'Aguirre' Turpentine Brush (Ericameria laricifolia) next to a clump of Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens). 11/1/12 Baccharis 'Starn Thompson' (B. sarothroides x B. pilularis). A neat, roundy-moundy Baccharis hybrid intro (1998) from Mountain States Wholesale Nursery. 10/27/12 Wedgeleaf Goldenbush (Ericameria cuneata). 10/27/12 Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus). 11/10/12 Pine Siskin. Lots of these guys are flocking with the Lesser goldfinches this year and feeding off of our niger seed socks. I used to confuse them with the goldfinches until I realized they were really streaky and had a raspier call. 11/10/12 Pine Siskin 11/10/12 Lesser Goldfinch 11/17/12 Female Bushtit on the San Gabriel Fremontodentron. 11/18/12 Sticky Phacelia (Phacelia viscida). 11/18/12 Beautiful fall colors along the driveway. 11/24/12 Toyon/Christmas Berry (Heteromeles arbutifolia). 11/24/12 Brugmansia (Angel's Trumpet). About 4 years ago, Mom gave me a seedling of a Brugmansia that had sprouted from a larger plant growing next to their apartment in West Covina. I planted it next to our front entry which, with its northern exposure, is a tad shadier and cooler than the rest of the grounds. It is chock full of blooms right now, emitting a heady, heavenly fragrance in the late afternoon/early evening hours.