Saturday, December 12, 2009

Gold on Lombardy Road

I shot this on Lombardy Road in San Marino before the rain hit. It's probably all mushy now.

I hadn't meant to go that way but I was doubling back to go somewhere else, and figured I'd try a different route than my usual.

Note to self: unusual route = better chance of striking gold.

33 comments:

J.J. in L.A. said...

I love going off the beaten path...you never know what you might find.

Great photo!

Dina said...

You're so right.

"Strange travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God."
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Italo said...

A wonderful photo!!!!!!!!

Katie said...

Beautiful photo, with awesome colors. California sure is the golden state! You're so right about what one might find taking the unusual route. Thanks for the reminder to step off the normal path!

Cindy said...

Gourgous shot & angle! You'll have to contrast this with the purple Jacarandas in the spring! I love purple and gold. :)

dive said...

Oh, my.
Autumn in Pasadena comes a lot later than it does over here in Blighty but it is just as pretty.

Lovely, Petrea.

Michael Coppess said...

Ah, the things we can find if we just veer a bit from the usual. Good lesson, beautifully illustrated!

Petrea Burchard said...

Good morning everyone! Thanks for your visits. I love the Vonnegut quote, Dina. John and I were just talking about him last night. And Dive, it really is winter here, it just looks like autumn.

Bellis said...

I saw this last week, and hoped you'd find it, Petrea. It was as if all the leaves had been turned into gold coins by Rumpelstiltskin.

Unknown said...

I love the color and perspective. Great catch!

Cafe Pasadena said...

A unique shot of Lombardy. I've been on that street many a time. An East to West, or West to East, route across SM. (Don't tell anyone else about this path!) However, I'm not as familiar with the Vonnequt route.

Looks like that book or manual is working!

Margaret said...

Gold indeed.

Amy said...

Literal gold - gorgeous colors and great angle/framing.

Anonymous said...

At first glance, it looks like our Golden Shower Trees in Hawaii. Beautiful.

Susan C said...

Of course, you can't go wrong much anywhere in San Marino.

Love this photo.

Chuck Pefley said...

Love that low angle! Nicely done, Petrea!

Vanda said...

I was just musing the other day how fall hits LA in December.

Brenda's Arizona said...

It really is gold, isn't it? Never have seen such a beautiful pictures of leaves of gold.

TheChieftess said...

Beautiful shot Petrea...perfect lighting!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, all. Lombardy Road is pretty any time, but those fallen leaves were irresistible. Bellis, feel free to tip me off to shots you see, if you like. I get to them when/if I can. Susan sent me one I'm still aiming to get. If I'm in town. I may go to Hawaii if it's like gigihawaii says.

Desiree said...

Oooh, aaah!

Greg Sweet said...

Those trees are Ginkgo biloba. There are fossil records from the Jurassic era that are identical to today's trees. Ginkgos were thought to be extinct until a small population was found in China that monks had been tending. Now they are common, smog-resistant street trees.

If you buy a Ginkgo, you may want to spend the extra few bucks for a grafted male specimen. With a seedling you have a 50% chance of getting a female with VERY stinky fruit.

Greg Sweet said...

Some of the leaves on the ground are Sugar Maple (Acer saccharinum), but they are not the gold leaves.

Petrea Burchard said...

ooh, aah!

That's right, Greg. I love these trees. I showed off the ones at the Huntington here. (shameless PDP self-reference)

Petrea Burchard said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Trish said...

I grew up with a ginko just outside my bedroom window and somewhere around Thanksgiving towards New Year's, I would end up with such a carpet of gold outside my room.

Somewhere about 15 years ago, a drunk took out that tree, but based on Laurie's post a few weeks ago, it looks like the replacement tree is coming back to life.

Thanks for the great childhood memories!

Virginia said...

B ingo, this one is a WINNER! The POV is excellent as well.
V
I like Dina's quote as well

Shell Sherree said...

That would be a beautiful card or calendar shot, Petrea! Very pretty indeed.

LPB said...

I drive down Allen avenue by there all the time. The truly fabulous shot was in the late afternoon with the sun hitting the trees from behind. They just radiate light.

No camera
:-(

Petrea Burchard said...

Trish, tell us which post so we can go look for it or I can link to it here.

Virginia, I'm working on my Tenin perspective.

Thanks, Shell. And think of it as L. Barlow describes, with sunlight on it. Wish I'd caught it on that day!

mark said...

Beautiful photo. Very calming. You captured a fabulous moment in time. You have talent.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thank you very much, Mark. I'm definitely addicted to taking pictures.

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