I am a fledgling photographer and especially love exploring Nature up close through the lens of my camera. My interest in photography has opened up a new world for me, and I've discovered that behind every picture, there is a story waiting to be told.
 

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Fire on the Trace!
by Janie Fortenberry - posted 11/09/11

 

I travel the Natchez Trace between Clinton and Ridgeland, Mississippi, several times a week, and this time of year it is a real challenge to keep my car from wandering off the road. The Trace is literally ablaze with the fiery colors of the Chinese Tallow trees that stretch for miles alongside the road, and it is a breathtaking sight to behold.

 

Although they are considered a "nuisance tree" by many (my husband included), I love Tallow trees, especially in the Fall. Their translucent leaves shimmer in the sunlight, and remind me of stained glass.

Some people apply that old adage, "If you've seen one, you've seen them all," to Fall foliage, but you will never convince me of that theory. If you look closer at the foliage, you will see that each tree is different ... not only in size and shape, but also in the way light and shadows contrast its colors and the texture of its leaves.

This stunning tree caused me to slam on my brakes and pull off the road until traffic cleared, so I could back up to get a closer look (there's not a lot of traffic on the Trace, thank goodness!).

 Now tell me, is that not the most glorious tree!  Nuisance tree, indeed!

 

 

This coming weekend my husband and I are going to be traveling the Trace to north Mississippi for a weekend getaway, and I look forward to capturing more of God's glory along our journey.

 

 

 

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COMMENTS

Ellen Honeycutt (Atlanta, GA) - 11/11/2011

While I appreciate your enthusiasm for the colors of fall, Tallow Tree is more than just a nuisance tree - it disrupts the natural ecology of the area that it invades. Beautiful natural areas in the South are forever changed - and not for the better for many insects and birds - when this plant moves in. People should learn to identify this tree and remove it from their own property. Unfortunately natural areas like the Natchez Trace and State Parks have very few resources to help with removal, especially during this time of budget cuts. Volunteer with local groups to help eradicate this and other invasives in local parks.

I post this to help educate those that read this - these are not trees to be admired in the Southern U.S. Their presence serves only to reduce the natural diversity of flora and fauna that defines our heritage. Their presence reduces the biomass available to support insect populations and, in turn, bird populations. When you see them in abundance, think instead of how much native beauty has been lost due to their presence.
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