Fall might be my favorite time of the year at Vista Farm. After a sweltering South Louisiana summer, the cool nights and pleasantly warm days are a blessing. The old Catahoula cur is out running after squirrels and rabbits. The meadow is gold and white with late blooming asters. The sky is deep, clear blue.

The colors are just stunning. Deep in the swamp we don’t get much color in our leaves. They go from green to brown overnight. But a few species like the Red Maples are showy.

Say what you will about Chinese Tallow–most people would rid the whole country of this non-native, invasive tree. It takes seven years for it to produce seeds, giving you plenty of chances to chop it down. If you let it produce you will NEVER get rid of the seedlings. This thing is prolific beyond belief. If you chop down a mature Tallow, little volunteers will pop up around it until you dig up the stump or poison it. On the other hand, its leaves are gorgeous in the fall and from the nectar its flowers produce come a fine quality honey made by bees who love this tree. It’s a real dilemma for me, but I err on the side of chopping them down at least a lot of them.

Look around. Even if you don’t have colorful leaves the signs of fall are all around you. The squirrels are stocking up for winter in every hollow tree.

The migratory Yellow Rump Warblers are back in the Wax Myrtles. Caterpillars have started making their cocoons.

It’s a beautiful time of the year.