Fall Lagniappe

Although October brought several weeks of beautiful weather to Vicksburg, it was very dry and warm, with temperatures hovering in the mid-to-high 80s. Last weekend we enjoyed a couple of rainy days, along with cooler temperatures, and it seemed as if a fairy had waved her magic wand over the trees and turned the leaves from faded, washed-out greens to bright yellows, reds, and golds. Fall had finally arrived — almost overnight — and I was inspired to venture out to try to capture some of its glory with my camera. I wasn't disappointed, and, as usual, captured a little lagniappe along the way. Fields of Lavender My first stop was at a field on old U.S. Highway 80, that just a few weeks ago was white with cotton waiting to be picked. This is the way it looks now ... Isn't that a glorious sight! The flowers are actually a winter annual (aka a weed) called Henbit, which is a member of the mint family and is found throughout the United States. The fields are, indeed, beautiful, but the individual little flowers, which were covered with morning dew, are truly exquisite ... Henbit is probably not very popular when it's growing in your grass or cotton fields, but, after seeing these pictures, perhaps the next time you see some, you will remember the beautiful little flowers hidden amongst all those purple "weeds." Even better, I hope you will take the time to stop and see them up close for yourself. I can almost guarantee they will brighten your day! I invite you to join me next time to see more of the Fall lagniappe I discovered during my drive in the country. Here is a preview ...