If you were a season, what would you be?

Me, without question, I would be autumn.  Quite apart from now being in what I consider the autumn of my life - yes, I believe the human life cycle has its seasons just like nature - I have always been drawn to all things autumnal.  One of my fondest memories is that of coming to Christchurch on a holiday in May when I was 10 years old.  Coming from Auckland (a city which almost seems to completely by-pass autumn), I was blown away by the colours of the autumn foliage.  I recall gathering up armfuls of leaves in every imaginable shade of yellow, orange and red, and then insisting on taking them all back home with me and pressing them all into a scrapbook.

There is so much about autumn that I love.   The days are still beautifully warm (20 to 24 degrees C), and we seem to get a reprieve from the wretched, cold Easterly wind that ruins many a good summer day in Christchurch.

I adore the colours of autumn, and they're the same colours I'm drawn to in my clothes and the things that I surround myself with in my home.  Skies are blue and clear, not in that harsh and brash way that we observe in a summer sky, but softer and more brittle, with a hint of the cooler skies that are yet to come, and everything is imbued with a golden light that almost makes your heart ache.  Foliage everywhere in this garden city is turning to shades of celadon, chartreuse, amber, russet, cabernet, and already fallen leaves "clatter" down the street in the occasional breeze.

And of course I love autumn food - crisp, cool salad days are slipping away, and we start to think of things that stick to the ribs a little more - I'm starting to think of mushroom risotto, pumpkin curry, sweet potato ravioli, and apple crumble.

Earlier this week we were blessed with probably the most perfect autumn day I've ever experienced - the kind of day that is so perfect you want it to last forever.  So, having done an early morning yoga practice, and no class to teach until evening, it seemed like the perfect afternoon to enjoy some time in our Botanical Gardens.  I was not alone - seemed like half of Christchurch had come out to enjoy the day.  It being school holidays, small children were enjoying a last splash in the pool before the winter covers go on;  "bigger kids" paddled on the river;  and a young Japanese couple posing for their wedding photos, gazed adoringly at each other as though the Gods had designed this day with just them in mind.

I hope I can remember this day in a few months time, when we are shivering inside several layers of clothing and longing for spring to come.  I took my camera with me so that I could share this day with you.

This tulip tree is right outside our yoga school.  Although I photographed this from street level, our windows open right into its branches.  I love to watch the seasons pass by gazing into this tree on a daily basis.

It was a beautiful day even for the bees!

Shadows lengthen.

I have no idea what this bush is called, but I love its heart-shaped leaves in so many colours.

Green lace canopy

Autumn crocuses

I don 't know what this shrub is either, but the flowers make me think of ballerinas

I love this circle of trees

Hydrangea hedge

To everything - turn, turn, turn

There is a season - turn, turn, turn

And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die

A time to plant, a time to reap

A time to kill, a time to heal

A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything - turn, turn, turn

There is a season - turn, turn, turn

And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to build up, a time to break down

A time to dance, a time to mourn

A time to cast away stones

A time to gather stones together

To everything - turn, turn, turn

There is a season - turn, turn, turn

And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time of war, a time of peace

A time of love, a time of hate

A time you may embrace

A time to refrain from embracing

To everything - turn, turn, turn

There is a season - turn, turn, turn

And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose

A time to rend, a time to sew

A time to love, a time to hate

A time of peace, I swear it's not too late!

- The Byrds

Wherever in the world you are right now, I wish you peace, happiness, and all the joy that the season can bring.