Travel writers and amateurs alike might rave every autumn about the foliage in New England, but you don’t need to drive hundreds of miles to enjoy fall hues. There are so many places to enjoy fall foliage across the state. You can simply walk through your local park or take a short drive to do what people call “leaf peeping.” Here’s the rundown on some of the prime Autumn viewing spots in Middle Tennessee and surrounding areas this October.
Natchez Trace State Parkway
If you want to see the foliage from the comfort of your car, then taking a cruise down this parkway might be the perfect option for you. The entire parkway stretches over 400 miles from Nashville, TN, to Natchez, Mississippi. You can also hop out of the car and enjoy the great outdoors. Stop at Pin Oak Lake and rent kayaks or canoes, or simply sit and enjoy the fall colors.
Fall Creek Falls State Park
Encompassing nearly 30,000 acres, this state park is a gem on the Cumberland Plateau. You can view acres and acres of autumn leaves this fall, and you can also enjoy the waterfall! As the park’s name would imply, there is Fall Creek Falls – one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern U.S., as well as Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls and Cane Creek Cascades.
Explore your local park or take a stroll through your neighborhood!
Depending on where you live, there’s a good chance there are plenty of trees and shrubs changing colors in your area. If you live in Nashville, you can probably take a sidewalk and stroll through your neighborhood and into a nearby park. All you’ll need is a good pair of walking shoes!
If you want to venture a little further…
If you’re willing to go the extra mile, you can travel to east Tennessee and enjoy the beautiful views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can drive through different parts of the park, like Cades Cove and the Foothills Parkway, or you can hop out and take any of the hundreds of miles of trails to look at the leaves changing this season.
If you love to spend time at home as much as we do, then you’ll be happy to know you can bring the fall colors to your own front door. Here are some practical tips to incorporate fall foliage into your landscaping:
Start with your native plants. The volunteer state has many beautiful native plants to offer, and several of them provide colors throughout the spring, summer and fall. If you don’t already have native plants in your yard, then autumn is actually a great time to plant them before the ground freezes and as plants prepare to go dormant for the winter.
Trees are a great place to start, since they are the source of most fall foliage we admire each year! Sycamores are a personal favorite of mine with their large leaves that turn a golden hue in October – just make sure you have enough space for these forest giants. Need more suggestions? Check out our blog all about native trees you can plant in your yard this fall.
Plant perennials to bring back color every year. While you might not see beautiful blooms this October, fall is actually a great time to introduce new plants to your outdoor spaces. Coneflowers, asters, daylilies and so many more can be planted before the first frost and then enjoyed next year.
Use containers to your advantage. Even if you have little or no yard, you can still bring autumn colors to your outdoor spaces with potted plants. Mums are obviously a fall go-to, but you can also utilize so many other plants. If you need some inspiration, check out this blog on fall containers for front porch color. Should you prefer our team to handle the design and execution of the space, we stand ready to assist.
Gourds galore! If you love a traditional fall porch decoration, then we know you’ll love pumpkins and other gourds for your decor. Pumpkins and winter squash come in all shapes, sizes and colors, so you can likely find a variety that will match your style. If you have a garden, then you can even grow your own pumpkins and squashes in late summer in order to adorn your porch, back patio and the inside of your house in the fall.
Autumn is a beautiful time of year, especially here in middle Tennessee. It’s finally cool enough to enjoy the outdoors all day long, which means you can really run with the suggestions above and get planting! Have more questions, or need help finding the perfect plants for your yard? Give us a call, or visit our garden center in Nashville!
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