An 'autumn encore' is underway in lower reaches of the Catalinas

Autumn leaves have faded and fallen from trees high in the Catalina Mountains — but a sort of “autumn encore” is underway in lower reaches of the range.

There, trees and late-blooming shrubs are showing brilliant yellow and red hues in mid-November.

Earlier in the fall, aspen, maple and oak trees higher in the Catalinas were flashing their own seasonal shades before eventually shedding the color.

But now — along the lower seven or eight miles of the Catalina Highway northeast of Tucson — you’re likely to spot autumnal color ranging from the bright yellow blooms of turpentine bushes to gold leaves on trees.

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FIND SOME COLOR

Here are some colorful sites along the highway:

• Along the first miles, watch for rocky slopes with turpentine bushes festooned with scores of blooms.
• The Molino Canyon Vista site at the 4.3-mile point on the highway has more of the colorful bushes as well as some plants with bright reddish leaves.
• Near the 5-mile point, as you approach a turnoff for the Molino Basin Campground, a stream bed below the highway sports numerous trees of several kinds with leaves of yellow and gold.
• From a parking lot outside the campground, it’s possible to descend carefully to a stream bed and follow it to some photo-worthy color.
• A stop at the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site past the 7-mile point on the highway includes views of colorful leaves there and across the highway from the site.