By Johna Till Johnson
Fall is arriving early this year.
Last weekend I was up in coastal Connecticut helping my mother settle into a new apartment. The retirement community where she lives is lovely, surrounded by hills, trees, and not-too-manicured fields of wildflowers. And on this mid-September day, with still more than a week to go before autumn officially starts… the trees are turning.
Fortunately I had several errands that involved walking around the community in the golden afternoon sunshine. I took as many photos as I could to capture the essence of the day: Brilliant blue skies, sun-dappled trees, wildflowers dancing in the light breeze.
Nobody knows what the winter will bring. But if autumn continues the way it’s begun… it will be beautiful!
(click on any photo to start slideshow)
Vladimir Brezina (RIP) 
Johna Till Johnson
Wind Against Current 
lovely!
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Thank you!
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It’s all looking very similar in Old England too ;-) I just love this time of year for the light and the colours, both of which you’ve captured well here!
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Thanks, Sarah! Hard to believe it’s that time of year so soon….
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Time does fly! I just love Autumn though :-)
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That’s why I love fall – it’s by far my favorite season. It’s sunny but not that hot anymore, and the colors are beautiful.
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And Friday was the Platonic ideal of a fall day–not hot, not cold, blue skies, sunshine…. Thanks for posting!
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These photos make me want to visit New England even more than I already do! The autumn colours are spectacular.
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I will confess to growing rather fond of New England! After kayaking in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut I can’t look at the region the same way I did before. Swirling waters, crashing waves, dramatic vistas…. and beautiful leaves! Thanks for posting.
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This is what I miss about not living in NJ anymore. Here in Florida it’s hot…and then it’s cold. End of season change.
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What part of Florida, Lois? I lived in Gainesville for six years. And although I missed the autumn colors, a friend pointed out to me that all the leaves fall in the spring, when the new leaves come in. Like Lothlorien in Lord of the Rings! And it makes me wonder how Tolkein knew that.
Love your blog, by the way. Vlad and I are both cat people and we recently committed to getting a cat. As in, really getting the cat sometime actually soon….
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I’m in the Panhandle, in Pensacola–about 5 hrs from Gainesville. Ha! I do admire your cat commitment, Johna. My 3 are a handful but they make me smile. :) Thank you so much.
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Some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And Spanish moss and oak trees….I can’t say I envy you, because there’s noplace quite like NY. But I admire your taste in locations!!
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Johna, thank you for this glimpse of early Autumn! Don’t get much colour where I am, unless one travels outside the metropolitan area.
del
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You are most welcome! It caught me by surprise, which is why I had to photograph it….
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Stunning colours!!
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Thank you! And thanks for posting!
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Wonderful pictures. So enjoyable. Thanks for sharing. New England in fall is still high on my bucket list. But since it’s quite a ways up there, maybe the Lost Maples area here in southern Texas will have to do for this year.
Cheers,
Pit
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Texas has its own wild beauty, that’s for sure. But I do hope you make it up to New England one day. It’s worth it!
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Stunning photos! Autumn is my favorite! You really did a good job capturing the light.
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Thank you! As I’m not a photographer, that means a lot… Thanks for reading and posting!
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We just got back from a week on Lake Champlain. Both NY & VT sides still very green almost to Canada which is as far as we went, thought nothing of it since it’s a little early for color. Flabbergasted by Connecticut’s vivid foliage, chalking it up as another vagary of time & place. If it be not now, yet it will come.
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You and me both, Michael. I still can’t believe autumn is here. It varies so much year to year… some years, summer seems to last until October. Not this one, apparently!!
Hamlet. Damn it man, you’re good!!!
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Thanks! Come to think of it we defied NOAA’s augury last day on the lake and actually got away with it. The readiness is all!
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There’s always a bit of changing by mid September in southern New England — especially near water. A few years ago, we had a bit of snow too. Here (we’re just a few miles from both the RI and CT borders) we’ve got a lot of yellow plus hints of bronze, and red around the edges. By next week, you’ll see more serious color along rivers and other waterways. A week after that, beginning of October, it will be hitting peak in many areas.
It’s on time. I’m just sorry to see this summer go. It has been a great, great summer.
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Ah, Marilyn.. it has. And ours started back in February, with the Everglades Challenge. So I really can’t complain…. but still I wish it weren’t ending!!
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How beautiful it is, I love it, good job friend!
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Thank you, and thanks for following our blog!!
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Johna, beautiful photos…fall seems to be coming early to NE this year! It’s really chilly this morning…brrrr
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My thinking exactly… we may be in for another winter like last one! Picturesque, but long and snowy…
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I hope not Johna! But Farmer’s Almanac says so…for what it is worth. :-)
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I’ve read and heard a lot about the beauty of autumn i New England. rarely seen it captured so well.
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Wow, thank you!! And thanks for posting.
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Beautiful colours!
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Thanks!
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autumn is glorious! thanks for sharing these beautiful captures, Johna!
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No sign of it yet in NYC, but, as Michael says above, “If it be not now, yet it will come.” :-)
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You give us a very nice photographic preview of autumn in New England. Perhaps it’s the location near the water that’s encouraged the leaves to put on their autumn finery. We’re considerably north of where your mom is, and inland, and we’re still mostly green, very little turning so far.
It’s already getting cold here in the evenings and mornings, though. After last winter, lovely as the fall can be — let it take its time. I’m of no mind to rush it!
The readiness is all.
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The readiness indeed. And I would love for this fall to take its time. Or get it over and done with really fast— I’m already anxious for spring!
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Ahh, lovely post, Johna, I have a picture in my mind’s eye of the wildflower meadows surrounding your mother’s house. I’m excited for autumn, summer has been a bit of a washout over here, rain and clouds with only short bursts of sunshine, but autumn promises crisp sunny days and of course, those gorgeous leaves. I adore those bright red berries, looks like Vlad has some competition on the photo front. ;)
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Thanks for posting, and for the good words. I don’t think he has much competition, truthfully. I’ve learned quite a bit about composition from him–and then he worked his usual magic cropping, editing, etc. I’m just happy he found as many photos as he did that were “worthy” to be included in our blog!
And yes, here’s hoping for a wonderful, lushly colored fall.
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