Autumn

Leaves are changing here in the Wasatch mountains of Utah. Right now its mostly the shrubs and maples that are showing off their colors which are generally hidden the rest of the year by chlorophyll. Later in the season the aspens will turn a golden yellow/orange. Its a wonderful time of year. The days are getting shorter, the mornings and evenings are crisp and cool. There is a slight buzz of winter in the air...plants and animals getting ready for that long season of cold and snow.

I love the autumn. I love the changing colors of all things living...not just the leaves of trees, but of shrubs, grasses, flowers, and even many animals. The whole feeling this time of year is that of peace and calm, and at the same time, anticipation. Anticipation of things to come.

I took a group on a hike this morning. We had no plans on arriving at a destination. We just went out to enjoy what we could find, be it bird, mammal, insect, plant or the music of a mountain stream. We smelled wild mint; watched a small, perfectly camouflaged insect crawling along the bark of an aspen tree; looked at the hair-filled scat of a coyote; tasted wild berries that had lost most of their moisture; and of course enjoyed the color of the changing leaves...

I'm grateful to have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a nose to smell.