Through educational opportunities, we seek to create a connection that will inspire you to protect and conserve Tennessee’s natural resources.
It's finally arrived: the season of cooler weather, flannel shirts, warm drinks, and campfires. Following a summer of seemingly endless heat waves, I'm sure this is a welcome relief to many of you.
When I think of October in Tennessee, the first thing that comes to mind is fall foliage. Our state is known for its diversity of species and splendid autumn color. But due to the lack of rain these past few weeks, it's uncertain just how much color we'll see this year.
I also think of pumpkins and hayrides and trick-or-treaters and all things Halloween. And I recall some of my favorite spooky hikes and eerie sights along the trails. Yes, Mother Nature can raise
goosebumps in her own special way.
So for this newsletter, I've decided to discuss some of my favorite autumn leaves and spooky trees...
Autumn Leaf: Sassafras
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a fairly common tree in many parts of Tennessee and one of the first to show off its fall foliage. This year I saw my first colorful sassafras leaves back in late August.
This species is known for the aromatic, root beer‑like smell of its roots and bark.
Native Americans used the tree for a wide range of medicinal purposes and also made tea from the inner bark and roots.