Fall - Phoenix Style

"It's autumn time. It's autumn time. The leaves are falling down . . . " I LOVE autumn. Some of my fondest memories involve raking leaves as a little girl in Rochester, New York. Michelle and I loved to rake the leaves into big piles and then jump into them. My parents were glad to let us play that way, since it kept us out of their way as they raked and cleaned up the rest of the yard. There came a time though, when Dad would soberly announce that we had to put the leaves into the garbage bags to be thrown away. It was important there to get all the "old yard stuff" off the ground and thrown away before Jack Frost came and brought the wintry snow filled storms. If we didn't get the leaves up off the ground, then when spring finally rolled around, we would be left with a smelly rotting mess. Of course, none of that mattered to us kids; we were just helping with the yard work because it was fun. Dad would eventually give up on us putting the leaves into the garbage bags, and would do it himself. Then, as he hauled them off to the garbage pile, we would sneak along behind, poking holes in the bags, to release the "leaf prisoners." We were such little stinkers! I think we were finally sent inside to watch t.v. or something. People complain that there are no seasons here in Phoenix. It's true - our seasons come and go without the fanfare that other parts of the country get. But the seasons do change - one just has to be willing to look for those changes. On the first day of autumn this year, I was thrilled when I looked out my kitchen window, and saw ONE bright yellow leaf, framed by a tree of green. It was beautiful, and I found myself returning to the window to look at it throughout the day. Back then, the end of September, the weather still felt unbearably hot, so it was amazing to me that our Mulberry tree had recognized that fall was here, and had begun the process of aging its leaves. Everyday there are a few more golden leaves, and by Christmas Eve we will have a ground full of brown, dry leaves. It is our tradition to rake leaves on Christmas Eve. Today the weather has finally turned cooler. I would have stayed outside all day if I could have. It was BEAUTIFUL! The wind was blowing all day, and the high only reached about 76. It was a gorgeous day. And although, fall signals the winding down of plant-life in other areas of the country, here in Phoenix fall means that my roses are blooming throughout the yard, and my lilies have put on their party dresses and have come out to dance. I love fall!