With the harsh summer weather conditions we had in central Oklahoma I wasn’t sure we would see much fall color, but I’ve been surprised and delighted by what I’ve seen in the past couple of weeks. The sumac (Rhus spp.) is beautiful, with colors ranging from dark oranges to bright red; and the willows and native pecans are beginning to show bright yellow. Even the oaks, which usually only turn from green to brown, have delighted me with shades of orange, copper, and dark maroon. I was so enthralled by nature’s beauty I decided to take a mini-foliage tour. What is a mini-foliage tour? No, it’s not just looking at small-leaved plants, it’s taking a few minutes of my day to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage. You can do it, too….

Slow down a bit… Drive the speed limit instead of trying to race the person in front of you for a 10 second lead. If you’re in heavy traffic, keep your eyes on the road, but if yours is the only car on the road, slow down and take a look around.

If your daily drive to work or the store seems routine, adjust it a bit by going a block out of your way and then doubling back, especially if it means you will drive through a neighborhood you haven’t driven through before. Those homeowners have made an effort to landscape their yards, so take a moment to appreciate it.

This is such a colorful time of the year, so take a few minutes to appreciate the beauty of nature’s fall foliage bounty.

This is such a colorful time of the year, so take a few minutes to appreciate the beauty of nature’s fall foliage bounty.