Autumn colors beginning to show

Grape vines in Chico look more like fall than summer in August. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Hints of yellow are appearing sooner than usual. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Fall is in the air, or at least on the leaves, and it’s only August. November seems to be peak foliage season in Chico, but it might be earlier this year based on seeing hints of color in the last couple weeks.

Chico is spectacular in the fall with all the trees aglow. With it being known as the City of Trees, it really is magical in autumn.

I couldn’t find anything online as to why the color change might be coming earlier this year in Chico. It could have to do with the spring being warmer than usual and the winter rainfall sporadic.

I know most all of the harvests in Northern California have been sooner, so why not the deciduous trees getting in on this as well?

The small vineyard near one of the tennis courts where I play looks like fall. Tippy tops of some trees are changing to yellow and orange.

While the daytime temperatures still scream summer, the evenings seem to be cooler than years past. This must play into the trees thinking the seasons are changing.

Autumn is my favorite time of year, so no complaints if it lasts longer this year.