The foliage had been losing its freshness through the month of August,
and here and there a yellow leaf showed itself like a first gray hair…
September dressed herself in showy dahlias and
splendid marigolds and starry zinnias.
October, the extravagant sister, ordered an immense amount of
the most gorgeous forest tapestry to make glorious her grand spectacle.
~Edited and adapted excerpt from Oliver Wendell Holmes
The first leafy sign of autumn appeared on the Dogwood today, and it triggered a flood of “color” musings in my mind. Chestnut and chocolate! What’s not to love about a season that clears off summer’s calamities, piles delectable hues back on nature’s palette, and calls for a pot of hot chocolate? Lemon and lime! Grasses, flowers, fruits, berries, and even a beastie or two weave fabulous garlands in the sacred temple bound by earth and sky. Maroon and mahogany! Chilling winds induce chemical changes in leaves that conjure up magic shows on woody altars in earth’s forests. Mauve and mulberry! The leaves on maples, oaks, dogwoods, pears, persimmons, and other trees give birth to colorful, parchment-like jewels that will one day snap off, swirl in little eddies, and play like children upon the ground. Orange and ochre! Pumpkins made to squat on porches or bales of hay tickle the fancy of mortal tongues anxiously awaiting fall feasts and winter banquets. Red and russet! Roses, asters, and Maximilian sunflowers invoke a breath of spring not stifled by summer’s heat to keep the year’s last child in colorful array. Sable and sapphire! Skies often shrouded by gauzy, gray clouds are swept clear by northerly winds as cold fronts advance. On such days a spectacular brilliance can be seen on the brows of morn followed by daylight hours drenched in deep, dreamy shades of blue. Sterling and pewter! Plumed grasses shift and sigh in authorship of haunting, autumnal hymns. Ah, how lovely are the many colors of autumn and the Holy One who made them!
As long as earth endures, seedtime and harvest (spring and autumn), cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. ~Genesis 8:22 ✝
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How dramatic and lively your text, Natalie. I wonder if you are a poet or writer and if not you should consider turning all your beautiful thoughts into a little book some day. Along with your pretty images it’d be the perfect companion through the seasons!
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Thanks, Annette. I’ve thought about that but then I’d have to deal with publishers. Maybe someday, but for now I’m happy to write my little blog. There is a poet in my soul but she has chosen not to make her debut as yet so I just play with words and hope something good comes of them. Interesting enough you’re the second person today to call my words poetic. Have a great week! Blessings, Natalie
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Such a poetic way with words you have, Natalie. Always a joy coming here. Here, the first leaves to turn are the Viburnum, but with frost or snow predicted, we should be getting more color.
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Thank you, Donna. I’m glad you enjoy my posts. Can’t wait to see your colorful leaves. Blessings, Natalie
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What a brilliant red that leaf is, and the light shining through it is lovely. Plenty of colour around here now too, the trees are just beginning to turn. Cornus and maples are the first for us. But with it comes wind and rain, I don’t know how long the leaves will last.
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked the photo! I’ll bet you have some lovely color now because your autumn began before ours. I hope the wind and rain don’t bring them all down right away at least. Blessings, Natalie
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Beautifully put, Natalie, and so poetic. Autumn is my favourite time of year. The colours are breathtaking. Raking up the leaves is the only downside for me. They fall by the bucket load ~ Amelia 🙂
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Thanks so much, Amelia. At first I thought way I did the post might be over the top, but then again, what the heck. It’s my time and my dime, huh?! I’m glad you liked it. We have lots and lots of leaves here too, but that is one of the things I started hiring somebody else to do last year. Neither James nor I need to work our backs out that hard. And there are way more fun things than that to do. Have a great day, Amelia. Always good to hear from you. Natalie 🙂
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I just love your expressions, Natalie. They make me laugh. You’re right, though, it is your dime, and the post was far from over the top. It was just right. Great idea to get someone else to do the hard work and just enjoy the fun things. I’m all for that 🙂 🙂
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Thanks, Amelia. You often make me chuckle as well. We seem to be kindred spirits. Blessings, Natalie
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