| What I really know about Autumn Leaves | | | | without fearing that I might fall on the wet or icy |
| I don't like August because of its proximity to | | | | pavement. |
| September; September means the end of summer. In | | | | Autumn leaves end my summer freedoms; their |
| August, an occasional ruby or burnt orange leaf will | | | | appearance means that they are dying. Soon they will |
| float from the huge oaks in my yard. It is a harbinger of | | | | be a crunchy mess on the ground. Lawns resemble |
| the leafy avalanche that will follow, starting in | | | | patchwork quilts with meandering, wind-tossed leaves. |
| September. | | | | Rain makes the leaves slippery, and walking becomes |
| Many people enjoy 'fall foliage.' They travel hundreds | | | | hazardous. |
| of miles to New England, or West Virginia's Blue Ridge | | | | My gutters and downspouts will be clogged with |
| Mountains or Letchworth State Park, which is one hour | | | | leaves. Lower temperatures, chillier winds and heavier |
| south of Buffalo, to see what is visible in their own | | | | clothing accompany the autumn leaves, which cling to |
| yards-leaves turning scarlet or canary yellow, | | | | the trees until the end of October. Winds force the |
| cascading from branches and creating small hills until | | | | remainder to the ground where laughing children |
| they are shoveled into garbage bags. | | | | pounce, slide and trample on them on their way to |
| Children love to jump in the piles of raked leaves that | | | | school. |
| their parents have left by the curb. Families burn | | | | November means naked trees; almost all the leaves |
| leaves in backyards, creating an acridity that | | | | are gone now. Bare branches dictate the landscape |
| permeates the neighborhood. | | | | for the next five months. Snowflakes swirl around the |
| Some people love the change of seasons and the | | | | trees which used to host swaying greenery tickled by |
| vibrant, changing hues of the leaves. Some think these | | | | summer's soft breezes. As the snow accumulates, |
| colors are spectacular. | | | | wilted, brittle brown leaves poke out of the tops of |
| I don't. | | | | snow banks. |
| Green leaves are spectacular to me; they symbolize | | | | Gold and crimson leaves are sad messengers of |
| spring and summer-my favorite seasons. Their | | | | winter's dreary, leafless impending arrival. Oaks, maples |
| greenery means warmth, bikes, the relentlessly | | | | and white birches look pathetic. Their graceful, baron |
| repetitive jingle of the ice cream truck and open | | | | branches resemble a parent's outstretched arms, |
| windows at night. It means noisy lawnmowers and the | | | | yearning for the return of baby green buds. |
| smell of newly cut grass. Green leaves mean that I am | | | | Falling leaves announce summer's departure. |
| free to walk outside without layers of clothing and | | | | |