sumac

Leaves of the sumac starting to turn. The sumac bushes might be at the absolute bottom of the totem pole when it comes to valued plants in the area. It grows everywhere, mostly where you don't want to see it. Nothing about it is really shapely or elegant. It's about as ordinary as they come. Even the word sumac seems slightly distasteful. However, if you stop for a minute and really look at it this time of year, the leaves are about as intensely red as the  more iconic maples and oaks. Reams have been written about the breathtaking colors of the sugar maples in Vermont this time of year. I'm sure nothing has every been written about the beauty of the sumac.
The red conical seed pods also become prominent in the fall. Doug says that they provide valuable food for birds during the cold winter season.
I first started writing this, whatever it is, in 2007. I'm sure that at that time I never associated the word ordinary with the word miraculous. Now I realize they are often simply two sides of the same coin. Dandelions, snowflakes, blackbirds, sumac; highly ordinary but miraculous nonetheless.