The fall season in Southern California is as unique as the people who live here. We asked our staff to answer this question, "When does fall feel like fall for you?". Read our answers and find out what makes fall fall for us.

Staff Q & A: When does fall feel like fall?

Laura

In Summer the light is bright white, almost blinding sometimes, but in Fall the light mellows and becomes golden. This is what makes Fall to me, a soft mellow golden light that shows off the drying sycamore leaves and rusty colored buckwheat flowers. Fall evenings are the best when the light is fading and you can see purples, blues and blacks in the shadows.

Linda

Growing up in San Diego, we didn’t have much of a change in the weather so what always made me think of “fall feeling like fall” was the start of the apple picking season.  My family likes to start fall off by enjoying the apples from the orchards in Julian near San Diego and of course with some delicious apple pie.

Sydnie

It starts to feel like fall for me in Southern California when the air finally cools down around late October and the days become shorter. There are cold crisp mornings with the orange and red leaves on the trees that mean the changing of seasons when I can start wearing my fall sweaters and enjoy all the pumpkin desserts. 

Michelle

It feels like Fall when the nights start getting chilly and days get shorter. My favorite part of Fall is going up into the mountains and seeing all of the Aspen trees turn red. It's an incredible sight!

Ann

It’s quiet, the crowds subside, the sun is lower in the sky and the shadows are long. Fall field trips begin! 

John

For me, Fall feels like it's Fall when you step out and feel the cool air as a warm Santa Ana wind blows through the trees and around you.

Bonnie

It feels like fall to me when the mornings stay cool and the early morning sun illuminates the dew drops and spider webs on the plants. School groups return to The Nature Reserve for field trips where they hike among the Coast Live Oak trees bursting with acorns.

Tom

It starts to feel like fall when the temperatures finally start to drop, and the weeks are mostly filled with cloudy skies and cool winds. I especially know it’s fall when I can wear my jackets and hoodies and people don’t say “aren’t you hot wearing that?” when they see me.

Leeta

When it’s tarantula mating season and tarantulas start roaming the Nature Reserve.