What a pleasure it is to be out in an early autumn morning, the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot and the feeling of cool pure mist on the face, seems to bring one into physical contact with the very essence of this season.
The season’s storms have not yet arrived; river and stream run more slowly, their surface waters clear and still reflecting the changing colours along their banks. Here the smell of river water, fungi, damp earth and pine combine to create the woody, resinous and earthy signature of the weeks before the onset of winter. Breathe deeply and let the mind immerse itself in the moment of a present created by the unique fragrance of this season for soon, it will be gone, chased away by the freezing fingers of the coming winter.
Subtle; autumn can only be experienced in a garden, park, on a rough country path by the side of a natural river, or in a lonely wood. Out on the pavements of town and city autumn is experienced merely as the cooling and shortening of the passing days. This season of mystery and changing colour reduced to a mere inconvenience of chilling winds, as yet another year moves towards its end. Out in the city streets who has the time to experience the essence of a season that is captured by the smell of a woody, resinous perfume?
For the photos, thanks to Isobel Sinclair [first three] and Sheila Oakes [last one]