The last of autumn

Rain clouds were rolling in as I spent an afternoon photographing the last of autumn's colors this week. We'd been hit by frost for three nights in a row, and already leaves in many of the vineyards were crisp and brown, just hanging by a thread, waiting for the wind to blow them off.

This scene is on Palisades Road, a short and lovely road, with the most beautiful views, just northeast of Calistoga, California. My admirably patient dog, Zoe, waited in the car.