Fall in Montana is a fleeting endeavor. Most years, there is about a week of actual fall and then it is gone.
This year is no different. The leaves are turning the beautiful colors of red, orange, and yellow. As soon as they turn, most let go of their tenuous hold and fall to the ground. Many others are still green and hanging on. Still others are dead and brown and have been long on the ground.
The weather has been unseasonably warm the last couple of weeks, into the mid 80s for highs and still in the mid 50s at night. But cooler weather is on the horizon. Much cooler weather.
Next week will see daytime temps in the mid 30s to 40s and at night will be in the mid 20s to low 30s. As soon as this happens, which will undoubtedly be accompanied by a strong north wind that blows for a couple of days, the leaves will be removed in one fell swoop.
The trees that are already in the throes of color will be carried to their winter home of the cold dirt and those that are green will die on the tree frozen, brown, and withered to be blown away to some far off resting place.
Fall in Montana reminds us that life is fleeting and appreciation of the beautiful things must be done with intention as soon as they appear. The first leaf of color should be marveled at and celebrated. A full aspen tree the color of newly minted gold should be photographed, painted, and preserved in memory. They will be just as quickly gone.
As I watch today’s wind blow, the leaves are making their autumnal trek to the ground by the hundreds, maybe thousands in just my yard alone. I feel the change of seasons in my soul as the leaves let go to make way for renewal in the spring.
One week of fall in all of its glorious beauty is still worth the wait and the contemplation to remind us letting go can be a wonderful thing.
Yellow and orange bright red as if in fire
And so comes the fall crisp and cool all colors and leaves
Deborah Horton Writing 