The First Sign of Autumn
This entry was posted on 30 Aug 2007, 7:18 AM and is filed under Another Roadside Attraction.
The Prairie Flameleaf sumacs are budding out, a sure sign of the coming fall season.
Right now most of the six inch long flower stalks are showing a bit of white at the tips but here and there I'm seeing the red color as the buds open. In a few weeks these natives will be easily identified by their "flaming" tips.
The fruit of these Texas natives have been used for flavoring water, as a dye and for tanning leather. Wild turkeys, grouse, bobwhites, pheasants and songbirds all feast on these berries. Of course our whitetails find them delectable too.
