October Leaves and Nature’s Fiery Farewell
Today's Garden Words were featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
Words inspired by the garden are the sweetest,
most beautiful words of all.
October 9, 2019
“Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.”
With this simple yet profound truth, Elizabeth Lawrence invites us to slow down and savor one of autumn’s most exquisite spectacles.
As gardeners, we understand that this quiet rite is not merely about observing color changes but embracing the season’s gentle transition from life to rest.
October is often called nature’s funeral month, a time when the landscape prepares for its winter slumber. Henry Ward Beecher eloquently captures this poignant beauty:
October is nature's funeral month.
Nature glories in death more than in life.
The month of departure is more beautiful than the month of coming - October than May.
Every green thing loves to die in bright colors.
This is the garden’s grand finale—a vivid, blazing farewell in yellows, oranges, and reds, as every leaf dons its most radiant attire before falling.
Much like a masterful painter, autumn layers its mosaic of colors that celebrate the natural cycle of growth, decline, and renewal.
As gardeners, it is a moment steeped in reflection.
The leaves turning are not just endings but promises of fresh beginnings.
Sitting quietly to watch their transformation connects us to the rhythms of the earth, grounding us in patience and hope.
So, take a moment, dear gardener, to find your favorite bench, gaze upon the kaleidoscope of fall foliage, and let your heart be stirred by the timeless dance of the leaves.
This is more than nature’s farewell; it is an invitation to find beauty even in letting go.