Fall Color at The Windy Knoll 2005

The ground here in the yard is brown with fallen Water Oak leaves.  As you turn in our driveway, on the left the Possum Haw is loaded with red berries. The leaves are still intact, but when they drop the Possum Haw will be showy.  Looking to the right, the multi-colored bark of the stately River Birch is worth seeing. The red-stem maple has passed its prime, but still shows color.  Proceeding along the drive, the Gingko tree is ablaze with color – absolutely breathtaking.  It’s a bright yellow and will not last long in this state, but the ground will even be pretty when all the yellow leaves cover it.

Moving along one almost has to linger at the gorgeous rose bush with its late fall blossoms and even a bud or two.  It’s sometimes called Joseph’s Coat, but I believe the scientific name is Rio Sambe. It’s red when in bud and each stage of the bloom is a different color.

Rio Sambe

And right beside it is the Red Pineapple Sage still with a few blooms. Now we’re just even with the sun porch — looking off to the right is the Cypress  strutting its color.  The needles are literally orange, just ready to drop, but beautiful .

Soon the pecan tree will drop its leaves and that won’t be beautiful, but as my mother used to say, “where there’s a sweet there’s a bitter.”  Now exiting the car one can see the stunning Mexican Sage – still beautiful even though it’s been in bloom two months.  One variety is five feet tall, has purple blooms with white inside, but the other variety is solid purple and much shorter.

Passing the ramp opening (yes, people who walk with a walker have to have a ramp) one can see the yellow pansies just now coming into their own.  They are cool weather plants, you know.  Walking across the back yard, one can’t help but admire the Muscadine Vine as it changes color and then looking to the other side near the house is Jerusalem Sage – still bright green and then the darker green Rosemary.

Now we’re on the north side of the house with the old fashion pink rose – it’s a pass along plant and I have no idea of the name, but it has a dozen blossoms even at this time of year.  The red maple is just ahead and off to the right is the vegetable garden with the lush green color of the greens and then winter onions with green color all they own.  Yes, I know beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but for me this is some of the best of country living.

Beautiful Sand Mountain