The Colors of Indian Summer

I had to go to Jackson yesterday, and while driving the Natchez Trace on my way back to Vicksburg, I noticed that there had definitely been some changes in the trees and roadside foliage while we were on vacation in Georgia last week. I had my cameras with me (I don't usually leave home without them these days), and decided to detour onto old Highway 80 between Bolton and Edwards, Mississippi, to get a closer look at the leaves and trees. I call this time of year "Indian Summer," because although there is a hint of fall in the air, our days are still hot and humid. I think my detour was worthwhile, because I was able to capture several trees and vines with some of their leaves turning red and gold amongst the green. [You can click on the pictures to enlarge them, if you'd like] On another "detour," I found some goldenrod blooming in a field inside a split-rail fence. I've been trying to find some blooming close to a road, but I was able to walk up to the fence to capture these pictures with my telephoto lens ... While standing at the fence, I noticed this little clump of goldenrod at my feet, and was delighted to have an opportunity to try out my new macro lens. I got the macro lens a couple of days before our vacation and haven't had much time to use it, but I was pleasantly surprised by these closeups of the goldenrod. I'm going to keep looking for more easily accessible goldenrod plants, and hope to get better pictures. Fortunately, I'm not allergic to it! Although it's a little early for us to have brilliantly colored fall foliage here in Mississippi, I hope you enjoyed seeing the colors of our "Indian Summer."