Parched and withered from the heat of summer, the garden soon will surrender to crisp days and blustery winds. Shades of green will turn to crimson, copper, gold and orange.
Autumn delivers a dazzling fall color palette.
In the Sacramento area, fall color is a matter of careful plant selection along with cooperative weather patterns. Certain trees, shrubs, vines and some ornamental grasses transform into vivid autumn hues with many of the shrubs also producing red and orange berries. In some of the higher elevations around here you can see that type of color. Ellen Zagory, a horticulturist with the UC Davis Arboretum, says the most vivid fall color is the result of cold, sunny weather. In Sacramento, certain varieties are sure-things for fall color even without a boost from Mother Nature.