Fall in the Ozarks

A few Johnny-hum lately hummingbirds hovered about the blue morning glories along the fence in late August, looking for a last meal before heading south.  The days grew shorter, and the light began to change to theat more golden hue that comes with the arrival of autumn.

Across the nation people were folding and putting away cutoffs, shorts, swimsuits, t's...bringing out the long-sleeved shirts, the sweatshirts, sweaters...getting the kids and grandkids off to school again, and putting away the playthings of summer.

We began thinking about fresh apple butter, hot cocoa, toasted marshmallows, and hayrides. Bowls of popcorn. Afgans. Quilts. Autumn things.

Fall is the favorite time of many to visit Branson because of the smells, tastes, textures, and colors of the season. It is cooler now too, to be sure. (The average October high temperature in the Branson area is 71, the low 46.)

The forests around Branson are at the verge of taking on fall color. Soon we'll seee the hills and hollows fill with rich browns and yellows of the leaves of black walnut, the red leaves and brillant red berries of the native dogwood, bright yellow tulip poplars and paper birch, bright red-orange sweetgum, brown catalpa and cottonwood, orange-and-scarlet surgar maple and sassafras, deep red sumac, rich purple ash and oak, and the pure golden leaves of hickory.

If you're coming to see the trees expect their peak color about October 15-20.

A fall Ozarks visit will also take you be roadside stands filled with the fruits of harvest - fresh, crisp apples and delicious ciders of all varieties, pears, hickory nuts and walnuts, grapes and gourds and Indian corn, and of course pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins.