English: The hills and valleys of California were lighting up with autumn color in early October 2017. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra acquired this true-color image on October 1.

While brilliant displays of leaf color are most often associated with the deciduous northern forests, autumnal changes also occur in many areas in the south, including California. Fall color can begin as early as late August in the high mountains (around 10,000 feet) and sweeps down to lower elevations as the year progresses. By October or even into early November most color has hit peak in the lower elevations but the palm trees in the low-lying desert regions may change color as late as December. Agricultural fields add to the autumnal beauty by changing color as crops ripen before they turn tan and dry with winter’s senescence.

In this image, fresh snow caps the Eastern Sierra Mountains while flushes of color can be seen near the snow and across the forest lands. The yellows of aspen and willow, both common in California, dominate where foliage has colored-up. In the fertile San Joaquin Valley, many fields are wearing the mantle of autumn as well. Smoke blows across the mountains and the valley, dulling the scene slightly. Numerous fires have been burning across California this summer. According to Inciweb, a total of 33 fires remained active in the state as of October 5.