L.A. Confidential

For Angelenos on a quest for fall foliage this November, the best advice might sound borrowed from the vernacular of an Eastern spirituality guru: Look inward, not outward. In this case, just off the 210 Freeway in Arcadia. LA County Arboretum and Botanical Garden is right under our nose, and fills our eyes with autumn hues. Make for the Meadowbrook section of this sprawling 127-acre nature compound to hike into a heady mix of fall color, flowering exotics, and mixed woodlands. The yin-yang-shaped Viewing Platform serves as a good starting point. Its deck is surrounded by red maples, liquidambars, and a tupelo tree, all morphing into fiery shades of red and orange. A small bridge connects to the Grace V. Kallam Perennial Garden. Pet the insanely furry leaves of lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina), a silvery mint-colored herb along the path, as you enter this perfumed Eden of butterflies and blooming perennials arranged in color-themed beds and shaded by Chinese fringe and eastern redbud trees. The yellow-flowered "sweet breath of heaven" gives off a strong citrus scent. From here, heed the call of rushing water—crossing a green lawn where peacocks often roam. Behold the Meyberg Waterfall. A staircase beside the cascade climbs up through coast live oaks, sword fern, and a sonic massage of falling water, to the Tallac Knoll region of the park. Dig the killer vista at the top: a sea of many-hued trees stretching all the way to the majestic San Gabriel Mountains. Continue along Plumeria Trail into a jungle of exotic trees and over 75 flower-bearing plumeria plants. There's no path through the adjacent Engelmann Oak Grove, but it's worth circling to glimpse these rare native oaks and marvel at the interspersed silk floss trees, some blossoming pink against blue sky in the canopy above.

TIP: Trees will likely peak between late November and early December. Contact the Arboretum for info on fall foliage tours.