September 22nd, 2020

Yesterday was officially that last day of summer, 2020.  Today, therefore, is the first day of autumn.   And I always loved autumn.  Well, I enjoy all of the seasons so it's a very close race, but fall, yes, fall is my favourite. Even now.

Just the word Autumn brings to mind so many wonderful memories of the colours of Fall.  Our Connecticut house was surrounded by Maple trees and a stone wall.  Once autumn hit fully and those Maple leaves began to turn all of those incredible shades of red, orange and gold, it was like being in the center of a ring of fire.

Even in Colorado there was autumn colour.  Well really, it's just the one.  Aspens turn from green to a vibrant gold and sometimes, when the light hit's it just right,  the entire hillside would shimmer with that golden hue. It was magnificent.

At least until those beautiful leaves dropped and then the branches were bare until spring and it started all over again.

Most of the places I've lived have a distinct colour change with the autumnal equinox.  And now here we are in Florida where it's green year 'round.  And while most of the time I am delighted with the lush greenery, come fall I am pining for autumn colour. So, rather than be blue about it,  I challenged myself to find the signs of autumn in our own yard.    Maybe I thought it would be like keeping  tinkerbell alive, if you believe in it enough, it will happen.

Well hang on to your pixie dust friends, because it did happen!  I had to really think autumn thoughts but yes indeedy, there is autumn colours are our yard!  

First of all, here is the backyard.  Doesn't look very autumnish does it?

​ But when I paid more attention, got closer, really believed it was there,  that's when I started to find it.

​Okay, I would define fall colours as various shades of:  red, orange, yellow and purple.  Sounds fair?  Here we go:

So it's September 22nd.  Next week will be October!  Exciting!  The temperature has actually dropped a bit here thought it's still warm enough to wear shorts and the humidity has dropped significantly.  That's probably our biggest sign of autumn, less humidity.

Eventually the temperature will drop enough that I will open windows instead of using AC.  And then at some point I will switch to long pants instead of shorts, closed toed shoes instead of sandals and shirts with sleeves.  But not for awhile.

Today I'm satisfied with having found some actual autumn colour here in my very own yard on this, the first day of Autumn.  I think I will celebrate.