Several nights ago the the flanks of Mt Lamborn turned from a summer green to the yellows, oranges and reds of  Autumn.  Even  that aspen patch on the west flank of Coal Mt turned yellow.  All in one night. Or perhaps I just hadn’t looked in a couple days. But I always look at those mountains during my days in the garden. The mountains, the sky, the cottonwoods,  my neighbors horses, and even those damn prairie dogs are all centering for me so I stop and look around quite often. So it must have been just overnight. Yet one can look and not see. We do it all the time. Who knows? I only know my favorite time of year has arrived. I love Autumn.

In the garden your effort goes from reaping – sometimes rather greedily – to a softer caring effort. Its time to tend to the soil. It has been fed upon, dug up and down, weeded and whacked, cajoled and cursed all summer long. Now we pull the spent plants, loosen the soil with a fork and rake in wonderful stuff like greensand, kelp meal, and compost.  There is still plenty of new growth.  Our spinach, kale, chard, are all beautiful and healthy. The bed of newly sprouted leaf lettuce is a beautiful fall display of greens, reds, and browns. Yet it all has a softer feel to it. And soon even these beds will be put to rest for the winter. I’m grateful for the seasons .  I need all four of them to feel right in my skin. I’ll love them all but Autumn is the only one I don’t ever curse even when it doesn’t hang in there long enough to suit me.  I curse winter for coming to early.  On a cold and rainy autumn day I’m hoping for a long beautiful fall. It can snow on Halloween – and almost always does!