This year the colors of fall have been spectacular. The Pacific Northwest is blessed with year-round greens. But this year the reds have been outstanding.

20071020_FallColors0 A fantastic maple near our house.

20071020_FallColors1 There are a lot of beautiful trees on the campus where I work.

20071020_FallColors2 They have a whole range of colors.

20071020_FallColors3 With subtle shading.

20071020_FallColors4 Even the leaves on one tree describe a spectrum.

20071020_FallColors5 From the color variety across a tree, to the range illustrated on individual leaves.

20071020_FallColors6 There seems to be no universal pattern of color change.

20071020_FallColors7 Holly, of course is very traditional.

20071020_FallColors8 But other berries are just as interesting.

20071020_FallColors9 Is this a sumac?

20071020_FallColors10 This variety of mushroom is called a Shaggy Mane and is edible. (I like it.)

20071020_FallColors11 Most of the native colors are brown or somewhat drab, but even these can be interesting.

20071020_FallColors12 The fallen leaves make a snow of reds and whites. I have seen it where the grass is not even visible.

20071020_FallColors13 Our rains keeps the leaves wet. Therefore, they don't scuff up like drier parts of the country, but the colors stay bright longer.

20071020_FallColors14 This oil sheen was in the parking lot at work. It had an interesting pattern and contrasted with the leaf.

20071020_FallColors15 Ivy is around the pavilion columns. A couple of ducks took off from the pond after I took this shot.

20071020_FallColors16 The Chinook salmon are running now in the streams. They also turn red during this last phase of their life.

The lower fish is big: about 2 feet long (60 cm)!

20071020_FallColors17 This was a quiet place in a stream that runs though the business park near work. They rest a while and then fight their way farther up-stream.