December 12, 2015. Madison, Ms. Leaves.

The leaves on the trees in Mississippi stay on the tree for a long time after they have turned color.  The first day we arrived in mid October, the yard maintenance company were here blowing away the leaves.  They have been here each week doing the same thing.  And the trees are still full of leaves.  Ken and I don't know if this is normal.  In the condominium we did not notice but now that we look at the lake through the trees, we watch the leaves falling…but very slowly.

Today,  Mr. Albritton came to evaluate our trees.  We have 23 on the property.  Specifically, we think some of the limbs need cutting back from the house.  We do not like tree limbs overhanging the roof.  In fact, we really prefer the trees be planted well away from the house. But several beautiful big old trees are fairly close so several limbs need trimming.  Also vines have grown up the trunks which we do not like either, so he will cut the vines off too.  He will do the work in the new year but we are on his schedule.

I asked him about the leaves.  His response seemed reasonable.  It is common in Mississippi to have a frost of two in the Fall, so the leaves turn color and fall in a normal pattern.  But this year this autumn we had lots of rain and no cold weather so he said that the leaves just stayed on the trees even after they are dead.  He told me that he is not blowing his leaves until they are all down.  He is still waiting.  Ken and I are still learning about Mississippi horticulture.