Beautiful Fall

"The foliage has been losing its freshness

through the month of August,

and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself

like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty

who has seen one season too many. "

~Oliver Wendell Holmes

October's Party

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came-

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

The Chestnuts came in yellow,

The Oaks in crimson dressed;

The lovely Misses Maple

In scarlet looked their best;

All balanced to their partners,

And gaily fluttered by;

The sight was like a rainbow

New fallen from the sky.

Then, in the rustic hollow,

At hide-and-seek they played,

The party closed at sundown,

And everybody stayed.

Professor Wind played louder;

They flew along the ground;

And then the party ended

In jolly "hands around."

-by George Cooper

Help Wanted! How do you make a freeze and wind proof fall display?

Isn't this a beautiful home and abundant fall display? It makes me think about doing more than just putting out 2 pumpkins, 1 gourd and some branches in a milk can. Our weather being the way it is makes it hard to put up a nice lasting display. It freezes here at night which turns our pumpkins into mushy messes and so I put a little out and bring it back in every evening. I found a grapevine pumpkin at Michael's 2 years ago and that stays out until it is time to decorate for Christmas, which it will be before I know it. Besides the artificial pumpkins which would have to be weighed down here for the wind does anyone have any good ideas for fall decorating that would withstand freezing and wind? I'd be grateful for any suggestions.

- photos and text from Canadian Home and Country

"When was the last time a display of gourds stopped you in your tracks? Each October, Tracey Fraser contends with a veritable pedestrian traffic jam outside her Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, home as soon as she sets out her annual exhibit. With its soft yellow facade and gingerbread detail, Tracey’s home is the perfect backdrop for the warm tones of autumn."

By Christina Selby
Photography by Andreas Trauttmansdorff for Canadian Home and Country