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Reflections of What the Autumn Season Means
Glorious fall colored leaves
Favorite Season of the Year
My favorite season has always been Autumn, although Spring would probably be my next favorite.
That being said...all times of the year have their own unique beauty and there are some advantages to each season of the year.
But in the fall season, Mother Nature pulls out her entire color palette and produces an absolute riot of colors!
Rich oranges to golden yellows to burnt umber's and shades of red arrest one's attention and one would need to be color blind not to notice the resplendent saturation of pigmented colors begging for one's attention.
Season of Fall
On one of my mother's and my vacation trips, we purposely planned to see family members up in Iowa and Illinois during the fall season so that in addition to visiting and getting to see our relatives in person, we could also view the beautiful colored autumn leaves that are so resplendent in that part of the country.
We were blessed with a great time on both accounts.
My dear aunt and uncle and my parents had celebrated a double wedding together in the month of October and it was also the month of my mother's birthday. My mother had lost my dad years earlier and never even thought of remarrying because as she said..."No one could ever compare to your dad."
When we drove from Bettendorf, Iowa to Peoria, Illinois to see my cousins for one of those vacation days, they had very nicely arranged to celebrate both occasions at the same time topped off with this nicely decorated cake. Thanks again Tom and Judi for that thoughtful gesture as well as the lovely accompanying meal that day.
The fall colors on top of the cake nicely matched what we were getting to view outdoors by way of the vibrantly tinged leaves and flowers that were gracing the landscapes at that time of year.
Autumn Colors
Back in Bettendorf one day, we were taken for a drive by my uncle who wished for us to see more of the spectacular autumn leaves. Our timing was perfect as they were at a peak of loveliness.
Not only in their yard and garden, but everywhere we drove the wooded areas were ablaze with vibrant colors. The days were cool and crisp and the skies above bright and sunny. Mother Nature had pulled out all of the stops on these fine Fall days to show us some of the best that she could offer.
Naturally I was happily snapping photographs. Around each bend of the road one scene after another seemed to beckon for attention. While my aunt and mother were happily chatting, my uncle patiently stopped the car over and over again pausing long enough for me to get "just one more picture."
I remain grateful for that day of show stopping scenery from Mother Nature, and the memories of that vacation spent with my aunt and uncle and cousins still warms my heart.
Part of the country where my mother and I were visiting on this vacation trip.
Bettendorf, Iowa - 
Peoria, Illinois - More Autumn Leaves
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Harvest Time
My uncle's garden produce was coming to a close for the year because of the cooling temperatures and before long their basement would be loaded with green tomatoes picked before a freeze would damage them if left on the vine. Most would gradually ripen on the newspapers they had spread out on their basement flooring.
My uncle loves to garden and regularly grows vegetables to supply not only their needs, but also those of their grown kids when they visit from Illinois and Wisconsin. If the time of year is right, they can always count on returning home with garden produce. He also shares the bounty with neighbors and friends.
The apple trees in their backyard were heavily laden with fruit on the year of our visit and we returned home with bags and boxes filled with that luscious fruit. We had so much in fact that our first order of business was to make some homemade applesauce.
Ah yes...the fall season is bountiful in so many ways!
End of Summer
When one approaches the end of summer, one is rewarded with not only cooling temperatures in our part of the world, but also an abundance of a typical fall flower the chrysanthemum also simply known as mum plants.
Some well known gardens such as Bellingrath Gardens in Alabama, feature vast amounts of blooming mums in the fall season as does the seasonally decorated dome at Mitchell Park Garden Domes in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Next door to my aunt and uncle's home in Iowa is a nice mixture of those fall flowers as can be seen in the photo below.
My mother, uncle and aunt with mum plants in foreground
Fireplaces
In the cooling temperatures of the fall season, depending upon where one lives and just how cold it gets, fireplaces can once again be enjoyed. Obviously the timing is earlier the further north one lives as compared to those of us living in the south such as we do in Houston, Texas.
Getting to wear the cashmere sweaters and other seasonal fall clothing is once again enjoyed.
Savory Stews
If one has put away the crock pot or other useful cooking utensils and has shunned the use of ovens in favor of outdoor grilling, the fall season gives us more reason to start spending a bit more time indoors.
The cooler temperatures make one think of warm hearty soups and perhaps making some savory stews to warm the body and soul.
Holiday Gatherings
This is the time of year that one also starts looking forward to more holiday gatherings with family and friends.
The month of October brings on thoughts of the carving of pumpkins and Halloween which is soon followed by Thanksgiving gatherings in November and Christmas festivities in December for many folks.
It can be a stressful time of year, but also fun if the purpose of savoring the time with family and friends is the prime focus which of course it should be.
Reflections of Autumn
Obviously so much more could be said about this wonderful time of year. Thinking about walking in the woods on a soft layer of just fallen leaves or watching squirrels bury their cache of acorns or looking up in the sky at migrating birds heading south for the winter, this and more brings back thoughts of autumn.
What besides the already mentioned harvest time, warm colors, fireplaces and hearty and savory stews makes you think of autumn? Please leave comments below if you also like this time of year and have other thoughts and memories. Thanks!
What is your favorite time of year?
© 2012 Peggy Woods
Comments are welcomed!
I had one at McDonalds, I liked it. Yes, we tend to find things eventually :-)
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Hi Robert,
I have seen ads for the pumpkin lattes. Can't say that I have ever had one but they are probably good. As to that item you need but cannot find...hopefully it is not too important! Ha!
They are already selling pumpkin lattes at McDonalds. Yes, it could be a case of the items in the store are there for so long it's easy to forget the date. Like that item in the house that's always around yet I can't seem to find it on the rare occassion I need it.
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Hi Robert,
Christmas items are often co-mingled with Halloween items in the stores these days...so I understand. Ha!
Yes, I understand what you are saying about Texas weather. After Halloween I seem to be behind the power curve. I end up asking "why am I not ready for Christmas?"
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Hi Robert,
I agree with you that once fall arrives...it seems that the rest of the year becomes a blur with all of the celebratory holidays worked into it. The cooler weather is particularly nice...especially here in Texas.
Great Fall pictures. Yes, I like the fall as well. These days the way the holidays are merged together it seems as if the season is one big holiday.
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Hi Rebecca,
I agree with you in that Fall is definitely welcomed every year particularly for those of us living in hot summer climates. My cousin surely did do a great job creating that feather mask. :)
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Hi Au fait,
Like you we will definitely look forward to the cooler temperatures in the Fall season. We finally got some rain! It has been all around us but up until yesterday it kept skirting where we live while other parts of the city were getting inundated and streets were flooding. We are glad to have it come our way finally. As to the disappearing articles, I am gradually moving some of them over to what will become my own website. That has kept me quite busy checking for copied ones. Many of them have been copied and obviously if I cannot get them removed with DMCA reports, they will stay put on HP. Quite the project!!!
Fall is my favorite season too, Peggy. I guess it's because our summers here are so hot, especially late summer, so the cool down is always so welcomed. And the colors. Love your photos and the mask is awesome.
This article makes me long even more for the beautiful leaves up north -- and the cooler temperatures. We've had a couple of cool days, Wednesday and Thursday this week, and they're completely uncharacteristic for this time of year, but we're to be back to HOT again today, in the upper 90s.
I've noted that your hubs are disappearing . . .
Sharing this great hub and gorgeous photos again. Take care . . .
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Hi Rebecca,
You are undoubtedly starting to enjoy some gorgeous colors in your state now for the fall season. Glad you enjoyed reading this and seeing my photos.
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Hi Au fait,
I know what you mean about the temperatures although we had a few cool mornings with the latest cold front that came our way. We have only a few leaves beginning to turn here also and many of the trees that usually turn colors just seemed to drop them this year with little to no color changes. Too bad! Thanks for the pin + share.
Your photos are stunning, Peggy. Thanks for putting this together and sharing your love of fall. It's my favorite, too.
Came back to pin this to my 'Yellow & Orange II' board. Our leaves have barely begun to turn up here and temps are still in the mid 80s most days. Beautiful photos here. Really enjoyed this article again. Sharing with followers.
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Hi Aurelio,
It is the same here in Texas. I spent my early childhood in Wisconsin and the fall colors up there are nothing short of spectacular! Glad that you liked these photos and thanks for the votes. :)
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Hi Rajan,
The colors in Autumn are truly dazzling...especially from the Mid-west where these photos were taken. Glad you liked this! :)
We get some colored leaves here in Southern California during autumn but nowhere near the spectacles in the Midwest and Northeast. Someday, we'll take a car trip through New England to enjoy the fall foliage. Voting this Up and Beautiful.
I love autumn for the color it imparts to nature. These are some dazzingly colorful photos in here. Voted up, beautiful and shared and pinned.
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Hi Suzanne,
You will have your own pumpkin patch later this year! :)
Lovely HUB! I like autumn and winter best and avoid summer with all my heart and soul! Spring is a grab bag! This autumn I will have pumpkins all over my yard. The Methodist church gave me and my donkey a round bale of hay, 8 bales of straw and 25 organic pumpkins after their pumpkin patch event last year. Ray ate the hay, I composted the straw and stashed the pumpkins all around the yard covered with compost. Quite a few of them germinated and are sending hardy vines all over the yard! :D
Voted up, tweeted and awesome! :)
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Hi moonlake,
You truly do have the most magnificent Fall colors up in the Mid-West. I loved the trip that my mother and I got to take up to Iowa and as you can tell from the photos, we surely hit the Autumn colors at their peak of beauty. Yes...I can well imagine after the long winter that you have had that you are looking forward to Spring-time temperatures. It will come! Thanks for the votes up and the share.
My favorite time use to be fall but after this long winter Spring will be my favorite. Your pictures are so nice. We have pretty color here in the fall. I love seeing the pumpkins all over. Voted up on your hub and shared.
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Hi Vinaya,
The colors of Fall are truly beautiful. We are now enjoying the pretty colors of blooming things like the many wildflowers, the seasonal azalea bushes, the Redbud tree blossoms and more of Spring. Each and every season shares with us a unique beauty. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Every season has its own color, however color of fall is amazing.
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Hi Kathryn,
I know what you mean about looking forward to Fall after the heat of the summer. Our Spring is off to a roaring start. The Azaleas are blooming all over town and look so pretty. Will look forward to seeing your Fall colors when you write your hub next Autumn. Thanks for your comment.
Beautiful! I love Autumn, too. At the moment I am looking forward to Spring, but when the Summertime is here, it is always nice to have relief from the heat, and see the color everywhere. Thanks for sharing this with us. I look forward to writing an article next Autumn, because I will be able to take wonderful Fall pictures.
Have a wonderful weekend!
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Hi Au fait,
Fall was definitely my favorite time in Wisconsin. I agree that in Texas, Spring is so pretty especially with all of the many wildflowers like bluebonnets, etc. We get some Fall colors but nothing to compare with the ones up north. It has been cold and damp in Houston the last few days so we have really been using our fireplace of late, especially in the evenings. Thanks for your votes, etc. Always nice seeing a comment from you! :)
What gorgeous photos of autumn leaves! When I lived in WI autumn was my favorite time of year too.
Here in Texas I like spring the best -- when we have one. I love the wildflowers and spring blossoms here in TX and all the lush green foliage that results from the rain. Best of all, when we have a long spring temperatures stay modest so a person can enjoy the outdoors; it's neither too hot nor too cold. By mid May, it's just too hot for me.
Great hub with lots of good information and fabulous photos! It's only 28 degrees F. here right now, and dropping, so that crackling fire sure looked good. The beef stew would be very yummy right about now too!
Voted you up, BAUI, gave you another 5 stars, and will share!
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Hi vespawoolf,
That was my mother's and my last trip together which made it really special. The Fall leaves just could not have been any prettier! I am so glad to have taken the pictures and have those memories. I like your description of the Fall season. I'll bet that you do truly miss it while living in Peru. Obviously there are other benefits to living there. :) Thanks for your visit and comment.
I love reading your stories about the family. How nice you were able to drive to the Midwest just in time to enjoy the autumn colors, and with your mom as well. I think fall is also my favorite time of year and I miss the changing of seasons since we dont' have them in Peru. When I think of autumn I think of apple cider and pumpkin pie spice, nippy air and warm wool sweaters, shorter days and warm fireplaces. I really enjoyed reading this hub and your reflections on fall.
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Hi Michelle,
We burned real wood in our fireplace when we lived in Wisconsin. In Houston we also have one but with gas logs. Obviously it is not used that often because of our mild winters. But when it does get cold...it is nice to see the flickering flames for the ambiance alone. The turning leaves should be beautiful up north right about now. October was always gorgeous when we lived there. Thanks for your comment.
Wish that we can experience all the seasons here in Singapore! This was a great tribute to the beauty of the season.....I would like to be able to use a fireplace but it's too hot here! Thanks for the write...am sharing and tweeting.
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Hi RTalloni,
It is so nice to be able to experience all of the seasons as you can do now from where you live. I especially loved the beauty of Fall in the Mid-West where I grew up as a child. It was so nice to be able to share a bit of that season with my relatives in Iowa and Illinois with my mother on our last vacation up that way. Thanks for your comment.
How nice that you were able to visit with your family! Your fall photos are really nice. Because the corners of Western NC, Upstate of SC, Eastern TN, and N. Georgia are our current stomping grounds I have to say that we enjoy all of the seasons now. We miss Florida's Atlantic Ocean and Gulf side, but oh how beautiful fall is up here!
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Hi Judi,
Autumn is my favorite season, but those fresh fallen snows you referenced are also so very beautiful. Trouble is...you have to shovel it, drive on it, and it doesn't stay that pristine white and clean look for long. I remember those days well. We certainly don't get snowy days living down here often. It is a rarity as you know. Thanks for your comment.
While I certainly love the fall colors, my favorite time of the year is winter, especially after a new snow... so clean, so clear, so fresh....
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Hi Cheryl,
So glad that you liked this hub about reflections of Autumn. You are very kind with your comments. Thanks!
You are a very unique and beautiful artist. Love the photos of all the colorful warm colors. Great photos of your family members. I have enjoyed reading your hub on the Reflections of Autumn. Beautiful and well presented hub.
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Hi KoffeeKlatch Gals,
Living in the south as we now do, Autumn is looked forward to for the cooler air which eventually arrives. The summers are typically long, hot and humid in Houston. The air conditioners stay busy! So nice to know that you liked this hub about reflections of Autumn including time spent with family. Thanks for your comment and votes.
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Hi Lesley,
My uncle was very accommodating when he was driving us around the scenic areas of their home in Bettendorf, Iowa that particular Autumn. Thanks to him, I have all of these beautiful photos to remind us of that visit. Glad that it brought a smile to your face. Thanks for your comment and vote.
Peggy, your pictures are beautiful. I especially like that you include family. Autumn is my favorite time of year also. All of those glorious colors and that crisp air. Up, beautiful and awesome.
Fabulous photos Peggy, the colours are simply beautiful.
Asking your uncle to stop the car for just one more photo made me smile - I can certainly relate to that! - I love taking photos of Autumn.
A wonderful read, thank you and voted up.
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Hi Charlu,
That is the perfect way to see the seasonal colors by vacationing and then living in a climate that you enjoy for year round living. Glad that you liked these Autumn colors and hub. Thanks for your comment and vote.
Incredible hub with awesome pictures that are extra special to me since I live in Florida so season changes are not that significant. It is the main reason I vacation fall and winter to be able to see these incredible blessings that you have captured so brilliantly. Voted all the ups and thank you.
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Hi Don,
Seeing the Autumn leaves reflected alongside of the Mississippi River would have been beautiful to see. Thanks for your comment, votes and the share. Appreciate it. :)
Hi Peggy.The only problem with fall is that it is followed by Winter.When we lived in Illinois I liked to take follow the Mississippi River to the Minneapolis/St.Paul area in the fall.Didn't usually have time to stop much but the scenery was great on either side. Your pictures are very attractive.voted up, awesome beautiful and interesting. sharing with followers as well.
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Hi Pat,
Thanks so much for leaving a comment on this hub regarding reflections of the Autumn season. Glad to know that you liked that Ferrante and Teicher video playing the music of Autumn Leaves.
Your pictures are awesome, and your observations and description of your Fall experience gives a beautiful way to think about this season. Hearing Ferrante and Teicher play Falling Leaves brought back many memories.
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Hi Eddy,
Glad to know that you liked the photos of these beautiful Autumn colors in the leaves, flowers, etc. Always appreciate your comments. :)
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Hi Prasetio,
Thanks for your comment. Each season is a blessing, but Autumn seems to be a favorite with many people. Thanks for the votes and wishing you a wonderful weekend also.
So much beauty in all these wonderful colours;this one is just amazing as all your hubs are.
I vote up plus bookmark.
Thanks as always for sharing all these hubs and not one disappoints.
Take care and have a wonderful weekend.
Eddy.
Autumn is one of my favorite season beside winter (for the snow). I love when the leaves are falling down from the tree. It's one of the best gift from God. We must grateful when we met this season. I love all stunning pictures of autumn and the video as well. Good job, Peggy. Rated up (awesome, beautiful, interesting) and have a nice weekend!
Blessing,
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Hi teaches12345,
I know what you mean about the midwest as having the most glorious of fall colored leaves. Glad to know that this hub brought back memories of your sister playing that song of Autumn Leaves on the piano. Thanks for your comment.
I miss living in the midwest where the leaves turned color every fall. It was so beautiful to see the different colors, and then later to walk in them after they had fallen. Autumn Leaves is a song I have not heard in awhile. My sister used to play this on the piano and the trills of the keys always brought out the image of falling leaves. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi susanm23b,
Thanks for being the first to comment on this hub about liking Autumn. Your views must be spectacular where you live. Thanks for the vote also.
I really enjoyed this! Autumn is my favorite season. We live near the mountains and really love the gorgeous views--especially in fall. Your photos are really beautiful--you made me long to see those colorful leaves again. Voted up!
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