We are blessed in Virginia with trees that turn outrageous colors in fall. Trees like tupelo, maple, and oak are common, often remarkable as highlighted in the book "Remarkable Trees of Virginia", published by Albemarle Books. Virginia can brag at length about great trees in both size and history, a few are worth seeking out if not just for their peak fall season, but their history, size and proximity.

Oatlands plantation on Route 15 in Loudoun County has a greenhouse that turned 200 years old this past June. The door to the greenhouse has two very old Japanese maples (Acer palmatum var. dissectum atropurpureum), beautifully branched and covered in lichens, like welcoming sentinels. In fall they turn red and orange with peak color in mid October, the same time as the Middleburg All Breed Dog Show held there. I happily pay the extra $5. parking fee and bring my camera to enjoy the dog show and the fall leaf display in the gardens.

Sperryville, Virginia is probably best known as the town before you get to Shenandoah National Park. Within the town resides a sugar maple (Acer saccharum) that heads the chapter on "Community Trees" and might be worth a small detour off of Route 522. You can't miss it in fall, it's been called the "raging fire in the middle of town", believed to have been there since the 1890's.

Fredricksburg is home to several trees of note. Located in historical gardens that are accessible, some have been around long enough to stand as witness to the Civil War. Kenmore Plantation is home to the state champion yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea). Chatham Manor has two ancient catalpas (Catalpa bignonioides), said to be 160 to 170 years old, they stood outside the windows of the house that was converted to a hospital during the Civil War. It is very important to walk to the back of the manor and witness these old, old trees. Both catalpa and yellowwood have incredible spring flowers, both also have beautiful fall foliage.

An American Beech (Fagus sylvatica) in Falls Church is in line to be state champion. It's tied in second place with another beech in Westover Plantation in Charles City County. The number one, biggest beech in the state, lives at Westover Plantation in Prince George County. This still large and magnificent tree is located at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church on Sleepy Hollow Road. In fall it turns yellow to bronze then holds its leaves in winter as they age to tan. Church members have put in a short gravel path that takes you to this runner up that is said to be more beautiful than either competitor.

Mentioned several times in the book is Blandy Experimental Farm or the State Arboretum, outside of Winchester on Route 50. The grove of ginkgos is a must in late October when all 500 turn bright yellow. Dogwood Lane is beautiful in fall as the dogwood's foliage turns red and berries sit clustered at branch ends. You can find them planted on both sides of the lane that runs east to west, next to the dormitories. The lane once served as a carriage lane to the house.

A trip that will take you west to Highland County puts you in maple syrup country. High in the Blue Ridge mountains you will find the Rexrode Farm where sugar maple trees (Acer saccharum) are still tapped for sap and have been for four generations. The farm is the original family farm of my husbands family, settled because it looked like the German countryside they had left behind (often called Little Switzerland due to the terrain). The trees maybe as old as 250 years, some with broken tops, still standing despite strong winds that whip over the mountains. In fall they turn bright yellow, orange and red, in fact the whole countryside is nothing short of spectacular in the fall.

You can read more about the sugar maple trees on page 84 of "Remarkable Trees of Virginia", as well as many, many more. They say that Virginia is for lovers, I say it's for tree lovers, especially in fall.