Thanks to Hamlin Grange for his lovely photographs
*
Imagine my first autumn in Canada. I’d come here from Jamaica, where the trees and shrubs didn’t change colours — unless you counted the parade of blooms on shrubs like bougainvillea and trees like the poinciana.
Autumn in Ontario was a wonderland of changing colours and scents. The fresh smell of a cool fall day, the rain having come overnight and disappeared by morning, replaced by brilliant sunshine. The smell of wood logs burning in the fireplace. The blazing colours of the trees. And the shrubs. And the pumpkins.
Colours, glorious colours.
I had seen pictures, but the first time I beheld the autumn colours with my own eyes, I was astonished. When I realized that the leaves would soon fall and the maple and oak trees would be stripped of their glory, leaving bare branches and trunks behind, I wanted to find a way to stop time.
It’s many years later. You’d think I’d be used to the sight of Ontario’s autumn colours by now. But they still surprise me, still make my face break out in a foolish smile whenever I see what nature has wrought. Even on those days of awful pain and reduced mobility, when I am stuck inside the house, looking through windows, it seems to me that the air outside shimmers with a golden beauty.
I’m thankful for the sights and scents of the autumn. And glad to share with you a few scenes of the fall colours in Ontario. Enjoy!
Cynthia Reyes 
Hi Cynthia,
I said the other day that though I dread the coming winter, I really can’t ignore the magnificence of fall. Thanks for the great reminder of all the wonderful aspects of fall 🙂
Jacquie
Thank you, Jacquie. It’s a grand time, isn’t it?
Lovely Cynthia. Yes, the brilliant sunshine is kinda unique to the Great White North. Thanks!
Glad you like it, Jo-Anne. Great pix by Hamlin, eh?
Reblogged this on Cynthia Reyes and commented:
We’re giving thanks for so much here at the old farmhouse, where my husband, his childhood friend Tasso and I just listened to the wonderful Shelagh Rogers interviewing me about the story behind A Good Home, on CBC Radio. Friends in Canada: the show is repeated Saturday at 4 p.m. For my friends worldwide, here’s the podcast.
[audio src="http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/podcasts/nextchapter_20141013_25045.mp3" /]
I leave you with this, and the beautiful fall colours of Ontario.
Much to be thankful for, indeed. With love and thanks, from our family to you.
Beautiful re-blogged post, Cynthia. At the moment my computer won’t access the podcast. I’ll re-try later and then comment again.
I’d love to hear your reaction to it, Clare. I had been thinking of running away from home before it was broadcast, because all I could remember was crying or trying hard to not cry, and I felt foolish! But I should have known that Shelagh and her team would not have aired an interview in which I blabbered foolishly. I was relieved and thankful.
Ho! Just imagine the headlines if you had run away! I do know that awful feeling though – I can remember being really upset about something when I first started work and couldn’t face having to sort it out so went into an empty office and sat under a desk til I felt better. Unfortunately, I was discovered and the embarrassment … well! I’ve never done that again. You were right to feel a little concerned because some journalists these days seem to enjoy getting people to show their emotions and zoom in on and record every tear and sob. Good to work with a true professional.
Glorious colours.
Glorious indeed!
Such beautiful colours Cynthia, a couple of years ago we drove from Niagara Falls to Boston in Autumn, it was a spectacular sight, it must be magical to see this every year.
Oh, that must have been a marvelous drive, Julie. I’ve never done anything like that, but sure would like to.
I love fall, I was out the other day in the woods intending to do some work with my hands (being wound tight by other things), and instead spent my time marveling at the golden beauty of the trees, a living cathedral beneath the blue vault of heaven. It was not wasted time.
So well said. Thank you.
We are truly blessed in the Northeast to have such splendor with every change of season. It’s still amazing because it’s never the same twice. Beautiful pictures!!
Splendor indeed, Tina.
We’re richly blessed to live in the northeast, and even more so to live on planet earth.
It’s beautiful up there and those are excellent shots of the foliage. It does seem like the sky is clearer and bluer at this time of year.
I can imagine moving to Canada from Jamaica must have been a bit shocking in a lot of ways. Just the snow alone must have been very different from what you expected.
Oh yes, you’re so right. A shock to all the senses. Tell me, please Allen: do you have many maples in New Hampshire?
Yes we do. We have 7 species of maple including red and sugar maples, which are the showiest at this time of year. In spring maple syrup is big business here.
Hmmm… I’ve never counted the number of species here. But we have two kinds of burgundy-looking ones, and red and sugar maples and Manitoba maple and Norway maple — so maybe we have the same ones?
Actually, I miscounted when I checked to see how many maples are native to New Hampshire. We actually have 8, which are Box elder or ash-leaved maple, black maple, striped or moosewood maple, red or swamp maple, white maple, silver maple, sugar maple, and mountain maple. I’ve never heard of Manitoba maple but I’d guess that we do indeed have most of the same species.
Norway maples are an invasive species native to Europe and are banned here. Though I know of many old trees you can’t sell, plant, or import them in New Hampshire anymore.
I’ve never heard of moosewood maple, but the others all sound familiar.
It’s obvious that we’re going to have a maple war now between New Hampshire and Ontario. Whatever happened to our pumpkin war? Did you win, Allen?
I didn’t see it as a war to be one. I was just pointing out that if you were looking for real pumpkin nuts, then Keene New Hampshire needed to be on your list of places to visit. We’re having another Pumpkin Festival this weekend, in fact. Our little town of 23,000 is expected to swell to over 80,000.
Hey, I’m trying my very best to get a little rivalry going between Ontario and New Hampshire! Pumpkins, Maples, maple Syrup – the possibilities are endless.
I once ended up in Spain at exactly the wrong time – the fish war between Spain and Canada. It was not a happy moment. Now that wasn’t a “let’s have a pretend pumpkin war” — that was the real deal.
Gorgeous gorgeous colour.
Yes, indeed. And remarkable to realize that your spring is starting in New Zealand, as our leaves are getting ready to fall.
Happy Thanksgiving Cynthia. Like you – I’ve moved around a bit. And autumn in Ontario is indeed remarkably special.
So special. A blaze of glory.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and lovely accompanying photos, Cynthia. Enjoy all of it! 🙂
Thank you, Eric
Do the leaves change colour where you are?
Indeed, Cynthia. They turn lovely shades of brown (due to extreme drought) and then crisply, fall to the ground.
None of the reds, russets, golds and oranges?
Faint. One hour north in the mountains is a different story. Brilliant variations on yellow and gold with the Aspens. Just not here in the desert. 😦
Belles couleurs chaudes et douces de l’automne. C’est bon et ça fait du bien.(l’arbre est magnifique !)
Oui, Christiane, les arbres sont magnifiques.
Où vous habitez en France, les feuilles sur les arbres changent de couleur à l’automne?
Oui, ils se teintent aussi de couleurs jaunes orangées et c’est aussi très beaux(les variétés d’arbres sont peut-être différentes…) Belle journée 😉
I can’t imagine life with out changing seasons….for I have always lived in a place that changed. I am in awe every season like you! Makes you feel like a little kid every year:-)
That’s it!
I heard your broadcast the other day with Shelagh – I thought it was a very good interview and enjoyed it all. I look forward to reading your book too.
Thank you very much, Hilda. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Would love to hear what you think of the book.
~Cynthia~
Beautiful autumnal gallery … And you describe Fall in such a powerful, evocative way. I loved these words you have written as I also experienced that same feeling!: ” When I realized that the leaves would soon fall and the maple and oak trees would be stripped of their glory, leaving bare branches and trunks behind, I wanted to find a way to stop time”…
Sending you all my best wishes!, Aquileana 😀
Hey, Aquileana:
Thank you!
That’s a big compliment.
I ahae a question for you, because your blog intrigues me: how and why did you decide to focus on classical themes? I’m interested.
My best to you.
Hi Cynthia!.
I have always loved Greek Mythology… I studied it quite in depth in High School as I did the Arts and Literature orientation and the topics were mainly classic ones!, Love, Aquileana 😀