The Mountain Ash is my favorite tree in the Smokies.  It comes into a devastated area and fills in the landscape beautifully.  It displays delicate white blooms in the spring that give way to ash berries in the late summer and fall.  The Mountain Ash usually has a thick mast of berries every four years.  For some reason we are seeing a thick mast of berries last year and this year.  When the Mountain Ash shows it's red berries you know fall is just around the corner.  The Mountain Ash displays fantastic Fall color.
    I look forward to Fall.  For me it represents change in a mellowing way.  It's sort of different from the rapid growth type change of Spring.  I hope this Fall will be a time for reflection on all the growth and personal hard work we have all been through lately.  Through the good times and the bad times we have all grown a lot.