“Autumn Leaves” was one of the songs I had to learn to play when I took piano lessons as a grader schooler. It was torture! Not because it was a bad song — it’s gorgeous — but because I have two left hands when it comes to making music.
I make better music with my camera. Here are some photographs of autumn leaves and flowers taken in mid-October in my neighborhood. I took some of these photographs in a nearby woods that is, unfortunately for us and the animals that live there, slated for development.
Be sure to take the poll at the bottom of this post. And listen (see below) to Eve Cassidy’s hauntingly beautiful version of “Autumn Leaves,” which bears no resemblance to the plunky sounds I made as a mediocre pianist.
I didn't see the Cloudless Sulphur butterfly on the sunflower on the left when I was taking this photograph. Very clever, these butterflies, to look like petals and leaves.
Poison Ivy is very beautiful in the fall.
A tiny beetle hangs out on this thistle.
Asters are a home for all sorts of insects. It's the Waldorf Aster-oria.
I don't know what this flower is called, but it's certainly beautiful.
The crabapple trees in the neighbhorhood are weighed down with fruit.
This is a scenic spot along the walking trail I like to take.
I don't have to tell you what kind of leaves these are! Without red maple leaves, we'd have to cancel autumn.
An abundance of crabapples.
Pampas grass turns a lovely shade of purple in the fall.
Eva Cassidy’s version of “Autumn Leaves.” Beautiful, but very meloncholy. Get out your hankies.
Catherine Sherman 