The Big E – Explaining Autumn

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248 – November/December, 2025

By Elaine Lessig

I love autumn! It’s the season that bridges the heat of summer to the cooling winds of fall, and then proceeds into the very edges of winter. As I sit at my kitchen island glancing through the three decks of windows in front of me, I see the remaining leaves fall from the trees. This year’s fall came earlier than usual. Before the date on the calendar proclaimed its presence, pumpkins were separating from their vines, mums were budding, and the corn fields were stripped of their remnants. Slowly the yellow, red, orange, and variegated leaves edged out from among the multitude of deep green ones on the assorted trees on the property. Now, the few remaining leaves start fluttering to the ground. The branches are nearly naked from a nor’easter which passed through last week. The weeks of color are nearly gone. Suddenly, the view is primarily tree trunks, branches, and the foothills of the Appalachians, nearby.

Seeing fall for the first time with a new perspective is a wonder. With the leaves and undergrowth missing, huge rocks, boulders, and trees, which have fallen over the years, are visible. Although the variety of wildlife in the area is abundant, more of it is suddenly visible now. The bucks are rutting at the moment, also earlier than expected. Outside the glass French doors in the sun room, a doe with her young buck and fawn has been visiting just before dusk. Others have been seen from time to time. Ask me about the squirrels. They are extremely busy gathering their acorns for the months to come. Last week, a fisher–a medium-sized cat, both agile and a carnivore–was reported wandering in our small community. Fortunately, our neighbor shared a warning and a photo of the cat to our message board. Four of the five families all have at least one dog.

Click here to read the complete article
248 – November/December, 2025

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