Fall Colors of Florida

Once again, it's time to show the world that Florida does have fall colors! While other parts of the country are revelling in their leaf hues, we are experiencing our own unique form of fall color!


This is an interesting weed -- it is the wild balsam apple (source: resident botanist, Mary Stricklen). When it first develops, it is orange like and elongated pumpkin. Then it begins to open so that its seeds can disburse.

When fully opened, the seeds are exposed to the world and ready to find a place to take root. This weed invades groves and twines around trees. But while the fruit is on display, I think it is beautiful!

Here is the beginning of our winter color. This is a tree at the entrance into our property, loaded with wonderful flame or ruby red grapefruits. They are just beginning to turn and won't be ready to pick until January or February. But such and abundance is hard to pass up for recognition!

This grapefruit is either left over from picking last season, or early ripening. But it has color, so it is included!

These tangerines are on their way to being a treat on someone's table! They are down the road from our grove.

Fall color! Allergy sufferers won't think much of this ragweed, but fields full of beautiful yellow blossoms add to our autumn experience.

There are several lush bouganvillea bushes in our community. The blossoms linger long into the fall, and sometimes into winter.

This beautiful blossom is the Confederate Rose. It is not as sophisticated as a "regular" rose, but it is lovely and poignant.

The alamanda is a staple in central Florida landscapes. It is a sturdy bloom that never fails to cheer me up! This one lives in daughter Molly's beautiful yard.

Ah, my favorite fall color! The humble raintree. In our community, there are quite a few, and this time of year, the display is dazzling!

This full tree will be bare before long. The pink "blooms" remind me of Chinese lanterns. They have the same shape, and their papery texture is like a lantern.

Another raintree. With a better camera, the depth of the color would be more apparent, but it is beautiful, just the same.

Well, that's all the time for fall colors this year. Tomorrow, we leave for "Arkasouri" again, and fall foliage of a different kind!