Have you ever...............Wow

As we endure the transition from one season to another, we are always complaining about the cold, the wind and the rain, but we overlook the real beauty, natural splendour, that is ours to enjoy and embrace. Every morning I go for a brisk morning walk, the idea is to re-establish my fitness level, be healthy and the best time is first light.

For the last couple of days, I have done what so many young children do during winter, especially in central parks, they run and kick all the leaves that have falling from the almost barren trees, forming a carpet of splendour and beauty. I finally freed my inner child and walked through all the leaves and kicked through them, sending heaps of colour, shapes, leaves into the air, falling down once again to become an undesturbed carpet of colourful crunchy autumn leaves.

The rustling sounds, the crunching underfoot, red or rosy cheeks from the cold wind, is what informs us that we and everything in it is alive, even though the fallen leaves are already dead. It fills one with an acute sense of belonging, warmth and just the beauty of life.

What is Autumn?

Autumn is the transitional season between summer and winter, marked by cooler temperatures, shorter days, and the shedding of leaves from deciduous trees.

Rich Autumn Vocabulary

Nature & Environment

• foliage – the leaves of trees and plants

• deciduous – trees that lose their leaves seasonally

• canopy – the upper layer of leaves in a forest

• undergrowth – plants growing beneath trees

• harvest – the gathering of crops

• barren – empty or lifeless (often used for trees or land)

Example:
The forest canopy turns into a tapestry of golden foliage.

Change & Movement

• shed (leaves) – to lose leaves naturally

• drift – to move slowly through the air

• scatter – to spread in different directions

• rustle – soft sound of leaves moving

• wither – to dry up or fade

Example:
Leaves drift gently to the ground as the wind rustles through the trees.

Colours & Description

• amber – warm orange-yellow

• crimson – deep red

• golden – bright yellow with warmth

• rust-coloured – reddish-brown

• muted tones – soft, not bright colours

Example:
The hills are painted in amber and crimson hues.