Leaf Peeping In Southwest Riverside County: Fall Is Putting On A Show

Native fauna is offering a "leaf peepshow" across the region.

Toni McAllister, Patch Staff

Posted Wed, Nov 22, 2023 at 12:35 pm PT|Updated Wed, Nov 22, 2023 at 12:56 pm PT

The red berries of Toyon, also called Christmas berry or California holly, peek through the branches and leaves of California Oak and Sycamore trees. (Toni McAllister/Patch)

CALIFORNIA — Hey leaf peepers, you don't have to go to New England to see the leaves change color.

Currently, the Golden State's native fauna is putting on a colorful display, a veritable "leaf peepshow," with many national, state and regional parks aglow with fall hues.

"California hosts approximately 6,500 species, subspecies, and varieties of plants that occur naturally in the state, and many of these are found nowhere else in the world," the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reports.

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This week, Patch snapped a handful of pics of native color on display in Southwest Riverside County — a valley and foothill area bordered by Orange and San Diego counties. The region abuts the Cleveland National Forest.

All of the plants pictured below — and thousands more — are found throughout much of the state.