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