October 20, 2026
I count on Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) for its pink in spring. Flowers blooming before leaves appear, but autumn is outstanding as well. Vibrant yellow marking the season.
Redbud is a small tree that is native to eastern North America, growing to a height of 20 to 30 feet, common in the forest understory up here.
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October 19, 2026
Red Maple (Acer ruburm) is one of the most commonly seen trees in eastern North America. That certainly holds true here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Its native range is eastern and central North America.
It is a fast-growing tree which has many reasons to be called Red Maple, including red twigs in winter. In early spring as its new leaves emerge, they are red. Also in spring it shows off its red with clusters of tiny red flower buds, and its samaras (or helicopters) start out red. Its leaf petioles are red during the summer. And here we are in autumn, with its leaves a brilliant crimson, but they may also turn yellow or orange.
Many reasons to be called Red Maple.
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October 18, 2026
A tree I depend on for brilliant scarlet leaves. Starting out in early autumn, brilliance set against the perfect rich green, scarlet happening little by little, as autumn progresses.
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica), native to southern Ontario to the central and eastern United States, and Mexico. A medium sized tree that reaches a height of 40 to 70 feet. It is a tree that is said to be dioecious.
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October 17, 2026
A super trip to a sincere pumpkin patch. We’ve been going to Mulberry Hills Farm Pumpkin Patch in Mt Crawford for 15 years or maybe more. What a wonderful experience! We always come away with a perfect variety of pumpkins. Things just keep getting better and better there.
What FUN for the whole family!
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October 16, 2026
Cushaw Squash (Cucurbita argyrosperma), a botanical relative of pumpkins, as well as other winter squashes. Native to Mexico and Central America.
This squash has a mild and sweet flavor as well as a creamy texture which allows it to be a perfect substitute for pumpkin, sweet potato or butternut squash in savory or sweet cooking.
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October 15, 2026
In order to make a perfect apple pie, I absolutely MUST have McIntosh apples. Seems tastes have changed, or maybe people don’t even care if they make the perfect apple pie. McIntosh apples have become an extremely rare item.
But on an errand this morning, I found some. And because I found some, I made an apple pie this afternoon. I even have some vanilla ice cream in the freezer. Dessert tonight is going to be a wonderful experience.
Hallelujah!
October 14, 2026
Up and over the mountains for an appointment and this is what greeted me this afternoon. A huge Sugar Maple (Acer saccharin) showing off its best in autumn color.
Sugar Maple is native to the hardwood forests of eastern North America. Other trees found in those hardwood forests are oaks, other maples, beech and birch, hickory and ash, and various other trees such as black cherry, black walnut, basswood, and quaking aspen.
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A sea of Flowering Dogwood buds (Cornus florida) in a sea of crimson.
These Dogwoods set their buds in late summer, in preparation for the following spring. Winter follows, with the button shaped buds patiently waiting for their time, when they expand and open into showy bracts in early-to-mid spring.
Nature is amazing.
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October 12, 2026
Oh my goodness. In the past couple weeks, so many many MANY Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (Halyomorpha halys), outside and inside the cabin. Good grief. The vacuum cleaner has been so busy. It doesn’t get put away because it is always ready for BMSB duty.
That’s why I was so happy to see another stink bug. Not the usual Brown Marmorated Stink Bug which is native to East Asia, but one, just one, native to eastern North America. This one native stink bug is a Green Stink Bug (Acrosternum hilare). And apparently it knows it is not welcome inside.
Admittedly it is an agricultural pest, but there has only been one that I’ve seen, and I’m not a farmer, so that one is no worry for me.
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October 11, 2026
Sweet Birch (Betula lenta) adding yellow to the colors of autumn. Native to eastern North America. Crushing the leaves, twigs and bark of Sweet Birch releases a strong, sweet wintergreen scent.
The bark of a Sweet Birch. A favorite spot for Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus varius), who will drill small holes, called sap wells, in straight lines into the bark. These holes attract other bird species for the sap they release, and birds that come for the insects that arrive for the sweet sap.
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