Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower – Albert Camus, French philosopher and author (1913-1960)
Autumn is the hardest season. The leaves are all falling and they’re falling like they’re falling in love with the ground – Andrea Gibson, American poet (1975- )
How lovely is the silence of growing things – Evan Dicken-short fiction author
All we are saying is give peace a chance – Yoko Ono, John Lennon released-1969
I’m willing to bet most folks are ready for fall to come and for the hot days of summer to leave. For weeks now, maybe months we’ve been watering grass, raised beds, flower beds, flowerpots, hanging pots both morning and evening. The tree frog gets misting several times a day. We put out what I call the “water trays” for birds to drink and bathe. The deer visit and drink from the water trays as well. Four turkeys have been visiting periodically, parading across the field. They are so fun to watch. That’s how I usually spend the morning.
According to USA Today, the first day of fall will begin one of two dates. The Astronomical Fall beginning aligns with the Autumnal Equinox on September 22. Some meteorologists choose Sunday, September 1 as the start of Meteorological Fall based on the annual temperature cycle. Personally, I think I’ll choose September 1, so it will arrive sooner and maybe the heat will dissipate.
As for the changing of leaf colors, our wild black cherry tree leaves have started changing to a nice shade of autumn red. The USA Today report states the first changing of leaves to fall colors will appear along the Canada border. Then along the northern states. In any case, all the states’ leaves will change by October 30 of this year. That may include a lot of leaf raking and maybe burn piles. As a child we made leaf piles around Halloween, so we could jump in them and scatter them all over the yard again.
The following produces a garden that will never need watering, fertilizer, or raking. The Garden of Daily Living by Langston Hughes, an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri (1901-1967)
For the garden of your daily living plant three rows of peas: peace of mind, peace of heart and peace of soul. Four rows of squash: squash gossip, squash indifference, squash grumbling, squash selfishness. Four rows of lettuce: lettuce be faithful, lettuce be kind, lettuce be patient, lettuce really love one another.
No garden is without turnips: turnip for meetings, turnip for service, turnip to help one another. To conclude we must have thyme: thyme for each other, thyme for family, thyme for friends.
Water freely with patience and cultivate with love. There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what you sow. How does your garden grow? All the flowers, all the colors, all in a perfect row.
Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].
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