The leaves here on the mountain are setting their sights on winter. They’re slowly turning from their many shades of green to warmer colors – yellow, orange, red, purple. Giving way to green chlorophyll pigments breaking down which allows other pigments to show through.

This tree is one of the first to show color in the autumn, a native to eastern North America, Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica). A mostly dioecious tree (meaning each tree produces only female or only male flowers), the female trees have blue-black bloomed drupes or berries which are very popular with migrating birds.

I thoroughly enjoy the leaf colors that these trees produce, mostly brilliant crimson.

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