Fallin' in love

Today marks the official arrival of my favourite seasons: here in the US it's autumn and back home in Australia: spring. The flower shows Australia-wide during September are truly spectacular, with the golden wattle  (Australia's national flower) even celebrating its very own day to commemorate the passing of the chilly winter month (no that’s not a typo!) and to embrace the start of almost 11 months of gorgeous warm weather and longer days.

Although that sounds awesome, anyone who's lived in Queensland, Australia for more than a year knows that the changing seasons are very uneventful. Sure, the outside temperature slightly declines, the days become an hour shorter and certain flowers no longer bloom, but there is no magical display of seasonal festivity like there is here in the US.  

Fall, as autumn is known in the US, is the most miraculous and visually tantalizing season of them all. Nationwide, the pilgrims are still remembered and honoured through decorations of harvest vegetables and grains that are seen adorning houses, shopping centers, street lamps and basically anywhere they can be fitted. The pumpkins, which abroad are an association with Halloween, are in fact a harvest icon and sit proudly in all shapes, colours and sizes on porches everywhere!

It’s hard not to get swept up in the breeze that scatters leaves of yellow, orange and red all around. The atmosphere becomes so cozy as sweaters, coats and gloves are taken out of storage and gas lanterns and fireplaces are lit ablaze once more, while friends and families gather together inside to watch the football madness or sip cocoa by the fire.

This Australian can’t help fallin’ in love with the splendour of all that is fall.