With September arriving, and–in the United States–Labor Day weekend marking the unofficial end of summer, it seems like people are beginning to turn their attention to the arrival of autumn.
If you’ve been in the high country, you’ve probably already felt the first hints of fall: crisp evenings, the smell of dry leaves, and the slow disappearance of monsoons are all things that–for me–mark the beginning of my favorite season. Some of my fondest memories in the mountains are at this time of year. And, while fall hasn’t quite come to the deserts and canyons yet, it will. There’s nothing quite like laying out on a sun-warmed slab of sandstone on a brisk fall day. Autumn really is the best time to be in the redrock wilderness.
This month’s image celebrates the transition from summer to fall. A golden cottonwood leaf rests on clay soil that’s drying after a summer rainstorm.
Transitional, August 2011
They say the sense of smell is mostly closely tied to memory. For me, the smells of autumn are what mark its beginning. How are your senses stimulated when the seasons change?
Here in New Mexico, the smell that lets you know summer is heading out and fall is imminent is roasting chile: nothing like it! I always love starting to notice the evening and morning chills (late in coming this year, alas) and the earlier nightfalls. Definitely a happy time!
Ah yes…the roasting chiles. I’d forgotten about that until I read this, Jackson, but you’re right. Starting when I was about 7, I remember my Dad bringing hope 50lb bags of chiles every August/September…
…a definite indicator of fall. Thanks for the memory!
Very cool Greg… Great image and a nice segue into Fall…
Great photo Greg. For what it’s worth, this one gets my vote for favorite image.
As far as the seasonal change goes, except for one rainy spell in Feb I haven’t seen much change at all in six months. All I can smell is the crap in the air…
Wonderful image Greg from one of my favorite places. I love the way the sky is reflected in the soil.
I’m glad to see this again…even though I have to publicly admit that it hadn’t occurred to me that the marks I saw as resembling an ocean wave are actually the reflection of the sky on wet mud as Russ noticed.
That makes this even more special than I first thought! Really a very nice image.
We are getting close to our fall colors. A few of the Maples are getting some early reddish hues and the Virginia Creeper will soon starting getting red as well. It’s an interesting thought that the end of growth or life for so many plants and insects is heralded by such beauty.
Thanks, Steve! Yes, I was in the Sierra this weekend, and noted some of the aspens starting to think about turning a lime green color…definitely a sign of something beautiful about to start happening!
When I saw the photograph, I wondered if that was a reflection in the soil. What an incredible shot! This one blows me away.
I’m wondering about fall colors here as we got such high sustained winds for hours from the edge of Hurricane Irene and now many of our trees have brown, shriveled leaves on them from the wind and salt that they were subjected to.
Autumn is my favorite time of year and this is my new favorite photograph of yours, Greg.
Sharon
Thank you Sharon! I agree about autumn being my favorite season, and I also am glad that you survived Irene, hopefully with only a few shriveled leaves!
Stunning image, and shame we will miss another autumn gain by move to the land of rain forest.
But I am sure we will see plenty of nice color image here next few months.
Keep them coming.
Well I’m looking forward to images of yours and Alister’s relocation…so the feeling is mutual Juanli!
Have a safe move!
I love the colors and your selection of what to frame, but the single leaf is perfection.
Thanks, David. I appreciate it, and agree that I was drawn to the simplicity of the scene.