Sunday, November 16, 2008

It's All Down Hill From Here



There's no doubt about it. Autumn in DC has passed its peak. When I have to seriously photoshop a pic like the one above to make it interesting, then I know for sure that the colors are fading, soon all the leaves will blow off the trees, and then it will be winter.

Washington is a landscape of extended springs and falls. Winter and summer are shorter, not as eventful, just the opposite of the American midwest where I grew up. There, spring and fall popped and passed as soon as possible, while summer and winter went on and on. And on. And ... on.

Here, spring and fall unfold in slow motion, so just about the time when I think spring can't get any more colorful, something else begins to bloom. In fall, some trees turn colors, then others, then I think OK it can't get better than this. But it does.

Nothing goes on forever, though. Like George Harrison said (sang), All things must pass away. Sometimes the passing away of the world is so sad. Sometimes it's a relief. C'mon winter. I'm ready.

9 comments:

r. said...

Leaves are way better than ashes here down in southern Cal. But the fire infuses a golden glow to the sun... I kinda like it! :-)

Tess Kincaid said...

Your neighborhood is so pretty. And lucky you, to have such a nice long autumn! I enjoy the winter, too, though.

Cyndy said...

Photographically speaking, my favorite thing about winter is the sky. I had pretty good luck with that yesterday. Actually the sky is my favorite thing about winter in general. I miss the heat and humidity!

Reya Mellicker said...

Cyndy you miss the humidity?????

Wow.

Cyndy said...

I do! Call me crazy, but I'm a DC native so I don't know any better. I like summer humidity much more than winter dryness - there's just something about it that feels more comfortable to me.

Steve Reed said...

Remember when we went walking last Thanksgiving and there were so many colorful leaves? Seems like the peak hit earlier this year. (And of course Thanksgiving is a bit later...)

LadrĂ³n de Basura (a.k.a. Junk Thief) said...

When I miss the autumn leaves here in SF, I remind myself that I would not want the muggy spring and summer or snowy winter. Well, not all of the snowy winter, just a week or two of it. And some January mornings, we have gorgeous sunny mornings when the sun kisses the emerald hills and I am reminded of why I live here.

Reya Mellicker said...

We only get one or two snows here in DC. It's just the muggy summer that bothers me; the rest of the year is gorgeous here, Ladron. Really!

lettuce said...

i love the bit of golden light just at the top right of the tree