It’s no secret that the Autumn/Fall Season makes a brief and maybe cameo appearance in Southern California. The idea of cooler, crisper weather and streets lined with brilliant colors of fiery reds, burgandy, oranges and yellows might show up in late November, if it gets cool enough for those characteristics to shine through deciduous trees that warrant those visual gifts. My Sierra Club and Thomas Mangelsen calendars remind me of what other parts of the country are starting to enjoy and somehow I start to feel blue and homesick. It’s really quite absurd for me to feel “homesick” because I’ve lived in Southern California practically my whole life (three quick years in Texas as a kid). We are cyclical creatures and by nature I believe we need the transition of seasons (perhaps I speak too candidly for all).
About an hour away from home, we have a little mountain resort town in the Cuyamaca Mountains called Julian. It’s a gorgeous drive to Julian through Cuyamaca, where the landscape and scenery quickly changes and makes you feel as though you’re hours and hours away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you catch it at the right time, glimpses of beautiful Fall color decorate trees. Julian has but a main street with a four-way stop that San Diego locals and tourist alike find endearing and visit during different times of the year. It’s the Fall and Winter seasons that have drawn folks to the city for over 100 years as they are especially known for various Pie houses featuring good ol’ apple pies. Some of the more known ones are Mom’s Pie House and Julian Pie Company.
Cuyamaca: 7 years later – devestation from Cedar Wildfires 2003
Julian holds an even more special place in my heart now, due to events leading up to and during that included almost losing her in the 2003 Cedar Fires. It was a gallant stand by firefighters, community and residents to save the small area from being completely torched when the wrath of a man-made fire threatened its existence.
I recently enjoyed a mini road trip through the Cuyamacas and onward to Julian with my ever-patient and gorgeous Husband. However, in my quest to catch a glimpse of a new season, there were no signs of Fall/Autumn. Too early for trees to start changing their colors. I had hoped with the freaky cool weather and thunderstorms last week that changes in the landscape had started early. Looking for Fall was not to be found in Julian or the Cuyamacas just yet. Disappointed, but not all lost, we enjoyed lunch at a diner that looked like it was smack out of the 1950’s and walked up and down the main street at least twice (it doesn’t take that long), before settling down to enjoy some fresh apple pie. You can’t visit and leave Julian without a slice of fresh apple pie with a dollop of ice cream!
I have a disciplined photography project called the 52 Weeks of Corgis where I practice various photography techniques, angles and settings on my camera employing my three Corgi-kids as subjects. I walked outside the next day, preparing to capture Corgi images for the week when whoa and behold! I was looking for Fall in the wrong places this year. Fall had come to me, even if in a small way:
My beloved and very old Ginkgo trees (they’re potted and sacred) are turning yellow already.
My brilliant Liquidambars (sweet gum) trees are already deep burgundy and shades of burnt oranges.
I had strategically planned and purposefully planted dozens of various deciduous trees that would lend itself to gorgeous Fall colors (Gingkos, Chinese Pistaches, Crape Myrtles, Liquidambars, Japanese Maples, Heavenly Bamboos) for us over the last decade. In my haste to find Fall, I forgot to look in my own backyard. Isn’t that something about life? We get so busy worrying and looking for things outside our own walls when sometimes…all you have to do is look in your own backyard.
Have a beautiful weekend.
Mindy says
Love the note about looking in your own backyard. Last week I went for a walk with a friend, who pointed out all the different trees and plants we saw and told me what they were and how to identify them. Gingko is apparently one of the oldest trees known to man, and is used in memory tonics.
mangiabella says
this post was just lovely and warmed my heart – I felt as though I got a much needed escape by taking that drive with you! I can almost taste the apple pie!!!! Oh my sweet autumn, my favorite time of year….oh, and I loved looking through your Corgi photos – just awesome girl!!!!
Chef Dennis says
I love fall, the colours the cool crisp air, the starry nights….sigh….but then winter comes!! your images are beautiful, and mom’s pies looks like heaven! Thanks so much for sharing such a wonderful day with us!
Spice Sherpa says
Your post goes right to my heart. I remember living in Newport Beach and the only traditional signs of autumn were found in store-front window displays. After a couple years I realized the signs were there—they were just different. We lived on the Newport peninsula (a.k.a. Zooport) and autumn brought cooler sands and emptier, peaceful beaches. That said, I think the Eastern U.S. is one of the most beautiful places in the world in autumn and am so grateful to live in Upstate N.Y. Autumn will come Teenie Cakes! And I’ll think of you in March when we’re mucking around in sloppy, muddy snow and you’re at your cabin enjoying greenery and flowers!
Andra@FrenchPressMemos says
I love fall – I feel physical pleasure when I see those fiery red leaves. It is beautiful, and so are the pies!
sandy says
Beautiful post Cristina…
torviewtoronto says
lovely pictures
Kate says
I’ve been to Julian! The WHOLE town smells of apple pie! It’s always fall temps here in SF, so I get my fill of cozy scarves & sweaters, though I miss that showing-off foliage on the East Coast. Thanks for the post!
Jeanne says
I do miss the autumn colors of New England from my childhood. However, apple season in SoCal still reminds me of autumn. I’ve heard about Julian but never made the drive. I’m just a few miles from Oak Glen so I generally head up there on the weekends. I’ve found a little bit of autumn in my yard, too: the leaves on my grape vine are turning a beautiful shade of red!
Biren @ Roti n Rice says
Lovely post and so well written! Your pictures are awesome and ginkgo pic is just fantastic. I am a big fan of the ginkgo leaves and tree. I used to have two potted ones in Colorado along with 7 to 8 different kinds of Japanese maples. They are lovingly cared for and wintered in the garage. Sadly they all died when we brought them to Minnesota. The winters here are much colder and we do not have space for them in the garage. Ginkgos are supposed to be very hardy as I think they are native to China. I do see ginkgo at the arboretum but they are in the ground. The only tree I have left in a pot is the Amur Maple but it is not doing too well. It’s probably pot bound.
Cristina - Teenie Cakes says
Hi Biren – Ginkgos are special and such a rich history. Years ago, my Mom happened upon two old Ginkgo trees from a Japanese Gardener who was closing up his nursery. I think at the time they were well over 50 years old. When she moved from So California to Nevada, she left them with me – so they’re probably around 70 or older already. Every Spring I’m worried about them not coming back and it’s a song & dance from me when I start to see beautiful green buds pushing through. We’ve since grafted several and have offspring planted. They’re just beautiful.
I’m sorry about your ginkgos and Japanese maples. Maybe they’d do better as indoor bonsai where they’d be safer from the elements.
Kori says
Wow, your photos are beautiful…and those pies are mouthwatering 🙂
Cristina - Teenie Cakes says
Thanks Kori. Wish I was the one that made those pies!
roxan says
It’s true, SoCal doesn’t have the best autumn and it might be short, but we do get a small peek at fall colors here and i am very grateful for what we do get! 🙂
Cristina - Teenie Cakes says
Good attitude roxan! I hear we’re expecting cooler temps …maybe this will trigger some fall color reaction. 🙂
Angie's Recipes says
I love the colour of autumn…and its sweet treat. :-))
Cristina - Teenie Cakes says
Hi Angie – Autumn’s colors are what flowers are to Spring. 😉
Magic of Spice says
Beautiful post…and I too have lived in Southern California the majority of my life (born here), but remember a Fall and Winter in Michigan with my Grandparents. I have not been to Julian, but I do remember the fires…looks lovely and I will need to take the time.
Your photos of your precious gems are wonderful…so glad you found your Fall 🙂
Cristina - Teenie Cakes says
Thanks Magic of Spice: It’s more a beautiful drive to the small town and a quick afternoon road trip for a slice of homemade pie. 😉
Monet says
What a poignant ending to a beautiful post. Yes…we often forget to look in “our own backyards” for the things we feel like we have to travel to experience/see. Those pies look so delicious…whenever I think of fall, I think of pies and changing leaves. This post reminded me why I love this season more than any other. Thank you for sharing!
Cristina - Teenie Cakes says
Monet – Fall is my favorite season too. I remember a better version of Fall when I lived in Texas as a kid. Maybe next year I’ll plan that trip yet, to witness and experience a true Fall season out East. 🙂
Sara says
Yeah, no fall colors here in the bay area either. Instead, I grew up where the four seasons are a very strong presence and I have to say that although it’s nice to never have very cold weather I do miss the change of colors of spring and autumn. I cheer myself up by baking with Autumn ingredients 🙂
Cristina - Teenie Cakes says
Hi Sara – Baking is good meditation for me too. Ok – I’m off to bake! 🙂