Today has been a lovely fall day, with lots of bright sun. I've been doing a bit of yardwork, including raking the leaves from the only tree near my house, a White Ash I planted when I moved here 20 years ago. Like many Vermonters, the previous owner (the same family since the house was built in 1821) felt that having trees near a house was asking for trouble. But this tree has grown into a lovely shade-producing leafy shelter for warm summer days.
Raking browned leaves brought thoughts of the paths in the woods which had been brightly colored several days ago. Time, and soaking rain, have softened the hues of the fallen leaves; the bright reds are deepening to burgundy or fading to brown. There are still splashes of green and yellow, but the predominant hues are tans and browns and ochres. Colors are rich and lovely even within this limited and subtle range. We are adjusting to the color changes surrounding us and preparing for the stern beauty of winter.
autumn leaves are so ephemeral, I want to save ones like those in the last image, yellow with dots, just for the texture...but alas they're never as wonderful as that first glimpse of them, even picking them up off the ground somehow enhances the smallness of them....
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