These are the last six of the twenty four pictures of autumn foliar color that I got before the rain knocked so much of the foliage to the ground more than a week ago. #2 is the only picture of foliage that is on the ground instead of still suspended on the stems that produced it. The fallen birch leaves were just too pretty on the stone wall to not get a picture of them.
1. Japanese maple is not my favorite species, but it does have certain attributes. There happen to be several at work just because they happen to work well there. Some that do not typically develop good color got remarkably colorful this year. I believe that this particular Japanese maple is the common ‘Bloodgood’. It had been dark reddish bronze through summer, and then turned brighter red for autumn.
2. European white birch is grown for the elegant white trunks that contrast so nicely against the deep green of the redwoods. This autumn foliar color, although brief, is an added bonus. These trees were already starting to defoliate before the rain.
3. Hydrangea is not known for autumn foliar color, and as you can see, turns only pale yellow. Yet, it is striking in the shade, and contrasts nicely with the rich green of redwood and English ivy foliage.
4. Spirea is likewise not grown for autumn foliar color, or at least no so much in our mild climate. There are more than a dozen of them here, and none are doing very well. They will get cut back and groomed now that they are bare. I do not know what cultivar this particular spirea is.
5. Golden weeping willow was not only golden with autumn foliar color, but is still golden with the yellow bark on the twigs. So far, I am not too impressed with the yellow twigs. It is still a small tree, and growing in a mild climate that may not stimulate much color. Regardless, I happen to like weeping willows. This one happens to be in a swampy spot where it is quite happy.
6. Bald cypress is rare here, but there happens to be two at work. One was supposed to be a dawn redwood, but was obviously mislabeled. Fortunately, it just happened to be planted on the bank of a small creek where it gets plenty of water. The other was planted in an area that is too swampy for other trees. Both are doing quite well. When they defoliated, they covered the ground with finely textured needles that would have been impossible to rake up.
This is the link for Six on Saturday, for anyone else who would like to participate:
https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/six-on-saturday-a-participant-guide/
Tony Tomeo 
Beautiful photos in this post. The spirea, willow & cypress are all stunning. I really loved Bloodgood as well, & what a name! You’d have it in your garden simply for that. And here, my fine friend, is Bloodgood who does have certain attributes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I didn’t plant it, and would not do so if it could be avoided. They just happen to work well where they are. Many of those that I work with in the Santa Clara Valley are in the wrong situation; but landscapers still plant them because they are so trendy.
LikeLike
The trees and shrubs of this post look a bit like those we can see here … except the last one with a gorgeous fiery color!
LikeLike
The last one is just bald cypress. If it does well here, it probably does well there. It does not seem to mind the aridity (although it might dislike it farther inland), and does not need much chill.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of the 12 I like the cypress the best, the colour and leaf form look very interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is cool and unexpected. I happen to like it too, but just because I have not worked with it much before. I would think that those who have better color would not appreciate it as much.
LikeLike
I love the Bald cypress. The autumn colour is stunning! I am also a great fan of the maple tree, but I’ve never seen them here. In the UK I grew a Japanese maple in a pot. The colours were stunning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The maple in the first picture happens to be a Japanese maple. The bigleaf maple that I posted a picture of last wee is our only native maple tree that actually looks like a maple, and it happens to be grand. Box elder also lives here, but it does not look like a maple.
LikeLike
What lovely color you got! I do love bald cypress. Them and Tamarack, which I don’t imagine you could grow there, but maybe, if you can grow white birch…
LikeLiked by 1 person
There happens to be a single tamarack at the farm. I brought it from Washington. It is the only one I know of here. It does not seem to be unhappy here, but is not growing very big either. It may not like the minimal humidity. I would not plant another.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I grew up seeing them in the north woods of Wisconsin. Lovely things, but I think they like water in the air…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bloodgood is a great acer, always reliable, always looks wonderful. Bald Cypress looks like Taxodium distichum, we call it Swamp Cypress. I love its knobbly knees.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that is the species of what we know as a bald cypress. It is uncommon here. The small one that is down by a creek is developing knees. The larger one that is in a swampy area is only beginning to do so, but it has potential to be more of a problem because it is near a walkway and picnic tables.
LikeLike
Some more amazing colour – I especially love the flame red of this bald cypress.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That has been a popular one. It does not look so flame red to me. I though it was just paper bag brown. I just like it because i is a bald cypress.
LikeLiked by 1 person