Leaping into piles of newly raked leaves, inhaling the scent of a wood-burning fireplace, celebrating Thanksgiving...my childhood memories of autumn are vivid and delightful. The beauty of changing leaves lifts my spirit and makes me smile.
Trees know when it’s time to change. The decreasing daylight is a signal to stop chlorophyll production and divert water from their leaves to their trunk and roots. As the chlorophyll fades, leaves produce the vibrant colors of fall. All very scientific.
But maybe there’s a deeper message that comes with changing leaves. As the trees direct water to their roots, we, too, are reminded to direct our energy within. Perhaps the colorful leaves are a signal to wrap up projects and high-energy activities. To appreciate all that has been accomplished, and to prepare to enter the intensely quiet time of winter.
I’m always a little sad to see summer end, but the beauty of autumn is a lovely bridge to the deep silence of winter. The changing leaves are a colorful reminder that the time is coming to rest and dream the future.
So…like the natural world, I begin to slow down and turn within.
I appreciate the reminder…
(New photos on website Gallery: wandernature.com/new-photos)