Fall is an iffy thing

At least around here in the South. Up North, it's pretty much taken for granted that you'll have all sorts of color on the trees, but down here the results of vegetative hibernation often leave a lot to be desired. It's got to be just enough rain during the year, and just enough cold, and just enough everything else--lots of years all the leaves just die, turn brown and fall off. Sometimes we get a day or two of color, then they blow off in the next thunderstorm. The last few years have been tough because of drought.

But for some reason, this year here at the tail end of the Appalachians has just been beautiful. I noticed it this weekend on one of our trips across town, but this is just about the prettiest fall we've had in a long time. Even the horrible storms didn't manage to ruin the trees--the ginkgos and elms and hickories and oaks and maples and beeches and sweet gums are something to see. We came up and over Red Mountain and Ruffner Mountain and were able to look off across Shades Valley with the early afternoon sun low in the bright blue sky and it looked like heaven.

For those of us who don't get to see it every year, it's extra special.
posted by Terry at 3:17:00 PM