Golden Slumber

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
~ Albert Camus

What a glorious autumn we have had this year. Dave remarked this morning how beautiful and colorful the trees have been and I had to agree.

So often our Indian summers are short lived. The weather will remain hot and dry long past Labor Day, then suddenly it will snow. Other times the leaves are completely stripped by excessive windy weather and the dark, cold winter moves in much too quickly for everyone's taste.

Just ask a random sampling of people, "What is your favorite season?" and you'll discover the answer most give is "autumn." No surprise. The combination of warm, sunny days and cool crisp evenings provides an allure most people cannot resist.

Myself included.

Here's a young honey locust tree I noticed at the dog park last week. Newly planted, someday it will become a tall beauty, and each autumn it will turn glorious shades of gold, then orange. Dogs who come here to play and catch balls and zigzag around one another will be grateful for the shade and shelter its tiny leaves--clustered tightly together--will provide from a sun that burns extra hot at altitude.

You probably wouldn't suspect it, but this beautiful tree is one of many surrounding a miniature natural area in the back of our property at work. A quarter-mile gravel walking track circles two tiny ponds, next to a loud interstate and the Wonder bread factory, which spews a nearly constant sweet scent of baking bread.

On this day the wind was blowing, creating lovely ripples in the water. Rotting leaves at shoreline allowed me to whiff the scent of autumn instead of hot, sugary bread.

If I'm careful with my music selection, wisely choosing soothing New Age environmental background music, I can nearly drown out the highway noise. Soon I imagine myself gazing upwards into a deep forest canopy of gold, shimmering leaves drifting silently down to land in front of me on the soft dirt path. That is, until an eighteen-wheeler breaks my concentration...

Our maple tree struggled this summer, with the drought and extreme heat taking a severe toll on this backyard beauty. It suffered through most of July and August with a serious case of leaf scorch, but Dave treated the roots in late summer and we're hopeful it will survive the winter.

To look at its leaves right now, bright yellow tinged with green on the tips, it seems healthy as ever.

And despite the drought stress, that showy young tree felt strong enough for one last display of beauty as it prepares for winter's golden slumber, a well-deserved rest from the searing heat of summer.

Frostbitten and summer weary, the yellow roses are also ready for a nice long beauty nap.

I love how fallen leaves scurry off together and find quiet corner hiding places, where they can decompose and rest in peace.

(gratuitous dog picture)

Even Tonka and Daisy are tired.