We have not had a riotously colorful Autumn in SE Wisconsin. No one seems to know exactly why some are and some are not. Absence of chlorophyll, duh. But what else plays in? Moisture? Lack of it? Frost? No frost?
We can dither all we want, and may never know for sure. Up North where we lived full time for eight years, we were ablaze with color every year—in the land of the sugar maples. Only problem: by the end of September it was all over. Crunch crunch. But so gorgeous while it lasted!
Meanwhile, I tried to replicate what Autumn sometimes is, and can be. As you can see, I started well on the lower one-half of the left side as you face the above rendering. But then something obstinate, rebellious, and ornery kicked in. I couldn’t continue with Autumn colors, and had to insert Spring.
I guess you can tell where my heart is. But I don’t want to escape, as so many do, to the land of alligators, water moccasins, and crazy election problems. Never, no never.
Much better for me to live day by day in our capricious climate, appreciate the Winter beauty, and experience that March through May euphoria every year—followed by an often torrid Summer, and then our perfidious Autumn of unpredictable color.
Meanwhile, I can paint what I want. No alligators, no water moccasins, no crazy voting machines—just a capricious Autumn of a different color. It’s called DENIAL! 🙂
Margaret L. Been — November 18, 2018
