New plants, colors along the roads this fall
Posted on Thursday, October 2, 2008
To see a world in a grain of sand This autumn, some new plants and colors have caught my eyes as we drive along the roads.
Perhaps it is the slow drawling way we are making our way into leaf fall after such a wet spring and summer. But in the midst of all our green trees and grasses (which have allowed some farmers to have triple haying harvests ) the leaves which are turning already contain a few which are unfamiliar to me.
Of course this gives me the occasion to scrabble around to get out all my regular field guides and nature reference books, plus stack up some which I haven't used very often. In another column, I'll fill you in on what is available to us in this great collection of informational sources, some of which you can pick up cheap at a used book store or yard sale.
Back to the plants and trees. Sumac is one of the first to change its shade. Since August, it has gradually put away green in favor of its signature red wine color, both on its leaves and its berry clumps.
They began to be noticeably different, just in "a certain slant of light. "When sun and shadow combined to dapple the plants, I could see that it was changing. Or was it just wishful thinking on my part, ready for Fall to arrive ?
I am always reminded of my Daddy pointing from the car steering wheel at the roadside groves of fiery and dark red leaves and berries. After being surprised at his moving his driving hands in an unsafe manner, much less pointing, which we had been taught was rude, I would listen and look out the window. He would simply say," Sumac," in the voice I remember to this day - excited and somewhat hoarse as memories of his camping, hiking and horseback riding days in the Ouachita Mountains replayed in his mind. It was from him I learned that native peoples made dyes, teas, and other items of food and utility from the many plants of the forests. Just the one word, sumac, opened the door to another season of Nature's wonders for us.
So the change to autumn is another time of both sadness and anticipation. One season has completed its purpose and one begins to teach us what happens next. In a gradual year like this, the lesson will be thorough; careful attention can be paid to each increment.
It's like an enjoyable science class, one where we won't have to take a test afterwards, just know that we know.
Against the backdrop of so much green for an October, we will see each leaf, each blade, each fruit, each bark and tree shape leisurely reveal itself. There will be surprises," I never noticed that"moments. And we need it in the middle of the frenetic, panicky, indecisive atmosphere of the world outside of nature. Be assured. The natural world is not still; it changes, too. But it's a responsive adaptation to both the order of things (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer ) and to new challenges of the environment in which it functions. We can learn from this. And we can enjoy it for the gentle beauty and the unhurried model we are provided.
I can depend on the sumac. The dogwood are also slowly beginning to show their burnished maroon leaves. Sycamores, with their tall, straight white trunks, reach toward the sun. They will be ready to shed their big leaves after they run the course from green to paler green to yellow green to gold. How long will it take in your area ?
Pick a sycamore to watch as it takes each step at a time, each day at a time.
See if there is a plant you are not familiar with vying for your attention this year. I first noticed a splash of red and green ribbons, I thought, strewn in a ditch facing East along our drive home. We often have people mistaking our roadsides for trash cans, so I thought," At least it's pretty this time."
As I got closer and slowed down, dismaying those racing to wherever behind me, I realized there were plants scattered among the TYF's (scientific name for the many Tiny Yellow Flowers this time of year. )
Each plant had willow or bamboo-like leaves, alternately up and down stems like grass. Some of the leaves were bright red, others were green as Christmas decorations. Which is what they reminded me of - Christmas.
For several weeks now, the ornaments have continued, progressing from the smaller plants - about a foot high - to those which could be called little shrubs. They flash red and green for a few days, then fade as the larger specimens take on the role. After watching for them, I have now seen that there are larger bushes with the same leaves in the area. They look familiar, kind of river willow. But I don't recall this color show before in this place. Jeff says he used to see it often when he rode horseback into the deep forest and back roads.
This year, for whatever reason, I have noticed them. Perhaps they've been there all along and I have just whizzed by intent on my destination. Possibly by this time in a dry hot summer, they would not have been able to express themselves with such a color show for so long and I missed them because it was too brief and I was in too much hurry. Soon, I will further exasperate those driving behind me as I attempt to pull onto the side of the road and pick a sample of this plant for further study. Pray for me.
Rural Route While I am not recommending that you tempt road rage from other travellers along your route by driving slowly to look at plants or to pick a few, I do want to encourage you to do what many of the visitors to Bikes Blues And BBQ are doing. Take a ride.
Begin now. Drive out the slow roads, the dirt roads, the rural routes.
Look through the mist in early morning, the bright noonday, the glowing sunset, the gray days which allow Nature's colors to stand blazingly alone in their beauty. Take time; we have a few weeks ahead of the sheer joy in simply looking at the world around us.
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