I was raised in Nebraska and enjoyed the different seasons of the year. Some fall seasons were longer than others, depending on when the cold weather hit. When my husband, Larry, my kids and I moved to San Diego, we lived in the Pacific Beach area. The trees around us were not deciduous, so they didn’t lose their leaves. The temperature was usually around 60-65 degrees. We missed the seasons altogether.
We moved away from San Diego for about 8 years, to return again in the late 70s. I asked that we live inland. We found our home on a street lined with liquidambar trees. It was February when we moved in, but our realtor told us that our street was the most beautiful street in the area come fall. It was. As we met people around the area, many would state that they came down our street just to see the beautifully colored trees. I loved the breeze whistling through the leaves. Usually once a season, we raked the leaves since the trees weren’t huge like they were back in Nebraska. But all the same, this made it fall for me.
As years have passed, the liquidambars have raised the sidewalks, so many of our neighbors removed their trees. I sadly had to give in also. Before too long, they will all be gone.
This month, our writer Ronni Rowland, has collected a list of several places to go to see the fall colors. See page 18. Go out, and make it a day trip. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the whistling of the leaves.