And this was the upper

That is, the upper of the two flameleaf sumacs that I mentioned photographing along the switchback path leading down through the park behind the Arboretum on November 30th. This view looks almost directly overhead.

There’s no need of a ruse, and no one rues photographing Rhus lanceolata, unless it’s that there aren’t more of them and that their colors don’t last even longer. This picture is from two weeks ago, and while large and wonderful displays like the one you’re looking at are gone till next fall, a few colorful flameleaf sumac leaves still survive here and there around Austin.

© 2014 Steven Schwartzman