The Return

According to my calendar, today is the Last Day of Summer in the UK. It certainly feels like it came across the Pond this week, as temperatures have soared into the 80s and the warmer nights and mornings have returned.

But the trees and shrubs are definitely screaming FALL. There has been a slow change since the Autumnal equinox at the end of last month, but this week the colors have reached a new level. I drove out past Monticello yesterday in the early morning, and the roadside show was a treat for the eyes–bright colors shimmering under the haze settled on the fields, trees in yellows and oranges and reds and browns and greens.

I actually don’t need to leave my house to enjoy the colors this year. My own garden, now five years old, provides me with quite a show. This year, the blueberries that I moved into a sunnier spot have put on a gorgeous display of red and orange foliage that fairly shines in the mornings. My twin tulip poplars (Twin Poplars–a name for my “estate”??) started turning early, first yellow then brown, dropping their salad plate sized leaves on the grass. The fall flowers are also a treat–purple asters, peach and red dahlias, white and pink Japanese Anemones and my stalwart Browallia that reseeds like crazy and brings me that touch of blue that I always crave.

I don’t know if the fact that I missed the Virginia fall last year while I was in Colorado has made me appreciate it more–even if that’s true, I am immensely grateful for the beautiful scenes each time I head out for a walk or a drive.

Next week is promising much colder weather, including frost by the end of the week. I am prepared for it, but must admit to some trepidation about the onset of winter. The shorter days, change in the patterns of light, and colder temperatures have seemed harder to adjust to over recent years. I find myself longing for a lower latitude with its longer days and warmer temperatures. I’m already planning a trip to South Carolina in February, but may need to find my way to another southern destination before then.