A Beautiful Melancholy

I recently read an article where a gardener described the shift from summer to autumn as a beautiful melancholy, and it really resonated with me. It perfectly described the sadness of nature's inescapable decay and decline through autumn towards winter, whilst at the same time heralding a season of exquisite beauty and bounty.  

Perhaps there's a certain wistfulness as the light fades, the days shorten and the warmth cools. We say goodbye to the carefree feeling that long, warm summer days seem to bring as we prepare to spend more time inside, marking the passage of time as another year begins to slip by. There is a sorrow as signs of slow, gradual, yet inevitable decay unfold around us. Trees begin to lose their rich green canopies, flowers fade, birds escape to warmer climes, crops are harvested, fields are laid bare, birdsong is heard less and less. There is an awareness that the world is slowing down, pausing; gearing up for the harshness of winter's hibernation. The loss of light and warmth will be greatly missed.

But in amongst this slow decline, the exquisite appears. Trees now wear their autumn finery in shades of gold and rust and copper. Early afternoon light mellows, becoming softer and more burnished, the sinking sun casts long shadows and mists linger in cooling woodlands. Sunsets turn towards their winter palette of violet and lilac and cooler weather makes early morning walks invigorating and energising. Mushrooms and toadstools bring a welcome splash of colour to damp undergrowth and berries of all colours burst from thick hedgerows; fat, juicy blackberries, clusters of dark purple-black elderberries, soft smokey blue sloes, orange-red hawthorn berries, shiny scarlet rosehips, the holly, rowan, firethorn and many more. Trees produce their nuts and seeds, each one a small work of art; the acorn in its made to measure cup, the smooth perfection of a conker, the sweet chestnut in its spiky lime green case, the beautiful sycamore seeds gently spinning as they fall. We look forward to a season of cosy evenings, lit fires, warm sweaters, hearty meals and crisp, clear frosty mornings.

While it can be a plaintive time, it is also a period of thankfulness and appreciation of nature's bounty and beauty. I am grateful for cooler temperatures, enjoying fresh walks on the hills with a cold wind bringing colour to my cheeks and blowing away the cobwebs. It is truly a time to embrace and be joyful, not melancholy.