It’s that magical season again when the trees at Winterpast release their leafy bounty like ticker tape in a parade, and the desert winds take center stage. Every year, we’re convinced its the year we’ll finally need to hire a professional clean-up crew. Luckily, the winds haven’t let us down yet.
Last week, HHH and I were in the back yard with rakes and brooms in hand, while sighing at the sea of gold, brown, and orange carpeting the garden paths. And then, with one fierce howling windstorm, a miracle occurred.
The next morning?
Ground — bare.
Leaves — gone.
So, just where do they go, these thousands of dried leaves???
Not all of them vanish without a trace. A respectable number end up trapped in the greenhouse and shed, while many pile together along the fences, forming mounds. But, this isn’t every leaf grown this year. It seemed as if there were millions of them at the beginning of the season.
They’re not in the gutters thanks to our “Leaf Filter” system. They aren’t clogging the roof valleys or sneaking under the garage door. They’ve simply disappeared, riding the desert thermals like autumn butterflies, never to be seen again.
Wherever they land, we’re sorry. The ferocious winds of fall have done us a favor while redistributing the abundance and sharing a little piece of Winterpast with the neighbors.
So, as we wait for the next wind storm to sweep across the high desert plains, I lift my face to the sky and whisper a heartfelt prayer of gratitude. With a beautiful weekend of warm weather ahead, plenty of autumn chores wait.
Whatever you do this weekend, get out and about. Fill your lungs with the fresh, crisp air and enjoy the colors. Autumn is such a beautiful time of year. The great weather can’t hold forever, so don’t waste a second. As my dad would say, “It’ll be good for what ails you.”
