The Silk of Summer, The Crunch of Fall, Redux

Today, since I am temporarily out of commission,

I am repeating a favorite post of mine,

written originally in early October of 2010.

 Confession:  I repeated it last September, too, so if you are a regular reader, you should skip this one.

I am especially fond of this post because it is short.   Like a good sermon.  :-)

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The more things change, the more they remain the same.

It is remarkable, how our little patch of God's green earth

changes its wardrobe from a summertime riot of silky fresh color . . .

. . . to the crisp and crunchy textures and colors of Fall.

All in the blink of an eye.

I learned just a few years ago that the autumn colors of leaves --

those russet reds, those golds and browns and yellows --
are actually the real colors of the leaves.
Those colors have been there, lurking, all along.

The green is a costume.

A chlorophyll phantasy.

Our Forsythia of Many Colors.  Wilder than when it's in bloom!

Knowing this has changed how I look at autumn color.

Now, I look at an Autumn-hued tree and think,
"Ah-ha!  I'm seeing the real you!"

That maple tree in the corner of your yard?

She's been hiding her glorious Titian hair under Plain Jane green all summer.

How kind of Mother Nature to clothe her jewel-colored trees and bushes
in quiet green in Summer, leaving the glory to the flowers.

And how kind of her to give the trees and bushes
a last, riotous chance to shine before Winter.

Enjoy the color in your own backyard! -- Cass

P.S. My apologies to the science teachers out there.  Yes, I should have paid attention in class, lo those many years ago, and yes, this is a very simplified "science lesson."  But I'm afraid I'm pretty simple when it comes to science!

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