Edge of the woods.
An autumn rain sprinkles our sassafras tree this morning. It's the first one to turn colors here in Missouri. Thought you all might like a break from our 'regularly scheduled programing' (a.k.a. our trip picture report), to see what we are seeing in real time. : )
The sassafras tree.
Raindrops on the leaves.
12 comments:
It sounds like it is sort of a Canary tree, warning you of winter. Can you make a drink out of it or is that Sasparilla?
Oh, how beautiful! We are still looking for property in S. Missouri, so I have been wondering when the leaves turn in that area. It had been my hope to be firmly and snugly settled in MO by this fall, but the Lord has had other plans. I miss fall so much!
Thanks for the lovely pictures.
Mrs. Frodge in FL
Interesting the sassafrass tree is the harbinger of fall there. Hereabouts, that role is eagerly played by the alder and vine maple, both of which are doing their duty this past week. We may yet have a bit more "warm and dry", but MY hopes are not overly high for this. the image of the cluster of red leaves is beautiful.... well contrasted by the green out of focus in the background. One little "trick of the trade" that might make this one significantly more arresting: get a polarising filter (should be a "circular polariser" because of the autofocus system) which screws or clips to the front of the lens. Play with it before you take the picture.. you will find that it eliminates the surface reflection, allowing the underlying colors to burst forth, making the image colors more saturated. Quashing the surface reflections on leaves is one of the best uses for this device. What is happening is that the moisture and glossy outer membrane on the leaf reflect the light to the lens, and this reflection hides the underlying color. Something similar happens when, at times, you might look through a window from the outside and cannot see through the glass. Your vision is effectively blocked by the surface reflection. Shade the reflestion (or use a polariser) and you can clearly see through. Such a filter would have deepened the colors in the image of the full tree in the larger scene, but it would make an amazing difference in the close-up. They are not very expensive, one for a point-and-shoot digital is probably about thirty dollars...which may or mayn't be a good investment for your particular purposes. Be glad you don't have to buy one for a huge professional lens... like the ones Peter has rented! Three figures for a quality one. Oooofff....
Hello Servens,
It is very neat that you all have a Sassafrass tree!
Our English Ash trees are starting to turn golden, but only a few leaves have done so. They probably won't be completely golden, like y'all's Sassafrass is red, until late November.
Happy early Birthday to Joel!
Love,
The Kautts
Srl,
I'd never heard of a Canary tree before. I googled it, and it looks like it's a tropical tree with yellow flowers. Perhaps the flower bloom at the change of seasons? I know Sasparilla makes a type of soda. It looks like Sassafras can be used as an herbal remedy, but it looks fairly strong, so one would have to be cautious in its applications. This page did mention that "In the United States of America [oil of sassafras] is employed for flavouring effervescing drinks." So, I guess people do use it for soda! Interesting.
Dear Mrs. Frodge,
I didn't know you all were moving to MO!! That is wonderful news. : ) I'll be praying that the Lord brings it about in his timing. Glad you enjoyed the pictures.
Mr. Jesch,
Thanks for the tips on a polarising filter. Your explanation made sense--that would be neat to try one with our little camera. Could you find something like that at a camera shop?
Dear Kautts,
I had thought that the fall colors sort of went from north to south--but last week when we were in TN for a quick trip, I was surprised to see MORE colors there than in MO. Hmm. Perhaps the colors change based on climate more than geographical location.
Thanks for the b'day greetings. Joel is getting excited!
Resting in His joy,
Rebecca
Miss Rebecca
Yes, the filter I mentioned should be available at a camera shop. Best price might be found at a Wolf/Kits store (a nationwide discount chain with large volume). Another option would be to check with a Target or perhaps even a WalMart in the camera/electronics section. Bring your camera in to assure the device you get fits correctly. You won't get the level of care at the latter places you would at the Kits, but if you can check and make sure it fits...... Hoya is a very good brand, Japanese made but high quality and far cheaper than the two good German brands. Tiffen is a lower quality but serviceable make. Avoid the cheap Chinese junk brands.... not well made or accurate.
As to sassafrass.... the traditional medicinal herb is actually the dried and chunked root of the tree. I've used it many times, it is very tasty. Useful for fighting things like colds, flu, sore throats, often used in winter as a "tonic". I believe the main reason it has fallen out of popular use is that it IS effective, and so the pharmaceutical companies have lobbied the government agency charged with protecting our health to restrict its use and availablity. I've never heard of anyone actually having problems using it, and I've known many people to use it over long periods of time. It has been very popular and widely used anywhere it grows... from about Missouri/Indiana to the south and east. Any old time Appalachian, Smokey Mountain, Ozarks home remedy, cooking, home management, health books will mention it. Sad how our guvamint "helps" us so well, eh?
Rebecca,
The trees around here haven't started changing yet. :( I always get excited when the change colours. I really like the way y'all's tree looked.
I sure bet Joel's getting excited! ;) I'm still like that.
Lately, we've seen a BUNCH of monarch butterflys go right over our house!!! :) Mom has started counting them.
Blessings,
Johanna Kautt (for the rest of the Kautts)
It only takes a brief google search to see various cautions about sassafras use - even on 'pro-herbal use' type web sites. Words such as 'permanent liver damage', 'cancer', 'precurser to the drug ecstasy', 'toxic chemical', 'blood thinner', and such. We have tried sassafras tea at reenactment events and it isn't even that tasty. I don't see this as the government banning some helpful substance so drug companies can cash in. In the page Rebecca referenced, just before the comment cited, it said "Oil of Sassafras is chiefly used for flavouring purposes, particularly to conceal the flavour of opium when given to children." ?!?!?
-Mrs. Bringe
Wow! It's great to see such beautiful Autumn colours coming out in your neck of the woods.
We are now welcoming in Spring here in Australia & are looking forward to enjoying lots more outdoors activities in the coming months - we have many food & music festivals in the warmer months so there are lots of things to look forward to! Just this weekend we are heading to the beach for a barbeque birthday celebration for one in our family - with a forecast of sunny, warm weather :)
I enjoy reading your blog every now & then as your family's joy & great unity shines through in each message & picture. I hope you're all keeping well.
Warm regards,
Diana in Sydney
Mr. Jesch,
Thanks for your suggestions on where to find the polarising filter. I think there is a Wolf Camera down in the city (about an hour away), plus Target and Walmart aren't quite so far away.
Mr. Jesch and Mrs. Bringe,
Thats very interesting about the Sassafras. I certainly hadn't thought I was posting something so controversial! I merely put up the pictures because the tree looked pretty. : )
Dear Johanna,
That is fun about the butterflies! We have a few butterflies, but we've had lots of cicadas lately. They look like a cross between a grasshopper and a butterfly, but 'clatter' when the fly.
Dear Diana,
Thanks for stopping by the blog! It's always great to hear from friends around the world. Enjoy your spring time! I just switched out my summer clothes for the sweaters and wools of autumn. The air has a delightful chill in it. : )
Resting in His joy,
Rebecca
At the risk of another blow to a "dead horse", I believe it was from the Indians that the early mountain settlers learned of the sassafrass root.. actually, the bark thereof. I suppose, like anything, extended or heavy use would pose some dangers, and one should be wise. I do know it was quite popular for a winter and spring tea, sort of a tonic for the cold, indoor seasons when fresh vegetables were not ready to hand. Yes, the tree is a beautiful one, often planted to add to the natural beauty of those regions. I do not believe it grows in the Northwest, where I am. Never seen one that I know about. The tree figured often in the lore and song of the mountain people, too.. in fact, since this post appeared I find an old mountain song running through my head.... about "cold cornbread, m'lassis an sassafrass tea". (Ya got ta hear th' banjer on that 'un).
I was interested to learn of its ability to thin the blood... likely a part of its popularity back when, as things tend to run slow in the deep winters up in the hollers.
Now, if you manage to find and learn to use that polarising filter, make sure you let us know when its used to good advantage here, OK? I'm sure Peter could easily give a quick lesson or three on its method of use, and I know you'd delight in the "excuse" to have a chat with him.....
Dear Rebecca,
Oh, we really enjoy all the butterflys.
I'd better go now!
Johanna Kautt
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