Do you call it "autumn" or "fall"?
I like the sound of "autumn", especially in French (automne), Italian (autonno) and Spanish (otono, with a squiggle over the "n"). However, "fall" is more picturesque and evocative.
Whatever you call it, we're officially a little more than a week into the season here in the Northern Hemisphere. Some places are more autumnal; others are more fall-like.
To me, the season becomes "fall" when, well, the leaves change color and fall. Normally, that wouldn't begin to happen in this part of the world for another week or so. Weather forecasters, however, are saying the blaze of color will come later than normal this year because we have had a hot, dry summer and have had--so far--a warm, dry autumn.
While riding today, I saw some signs of autumn, though not in foliage. Rather, I felt the telltale nip in the air and noticed the light becoming more muted. Sooner or later we will be fall, complete with leaves that reflect the flaring and setting of the sun, something I look forward to as much as I await the blooming of cherry blossoms and lilacs at the beginning of spring.
For now, I will have to content myself with images like this, from a 2011 posting of Kansas Cyclist:
I like the sound of "autumn", especially in French (automne), Italian (autonno) and Spanish (otono, with a squiggle over the "n"). However, "fall" is more picturesque and evocative.
Whatever you call it, we're officially a little more than a week into the season here in the Northern Hemisphere. Some places are more autumnal; others are more fall-like.
To me, the season becomes "fall" when, well, the leaves change color and fall. Normally, that wouldn't begin to happen in this part of the world for another week or so. Weather forecasters, however, are saying the blaze of color will come later than normal this year because we have had a hot, dry summer and have had--so far--a warm, dry autumn.
While riding today, I saw some signs of autumn, though not in foliage. Rather, I felt the telltale nip in the air and noticed the light becoming more muted. Sooner or later we will be fall, complete with leaves that reflect the flaring and setting of the sun, something I look forward to as much as I await the blooming of cherry blossoms and lilacs at the beginning of spring.
For now, I will have to content myself with images like this, from a 2011 posting of Kansas Cyclist:
