IN THIS SEASON OF EARLY AUTUMN, the landscape of Minnesota transitions to subdued, muted, softer tones flashed with vivid orange, yellow and red in tree lines or a solitary tree. This time of year truly marks a change as we ease toward Winter, a season devoid of color.
A month ago, before Summer exited, I already observed Autumn’s entrance at River Bend Nature Center in Faribault. Stands of cattails. Groups of goldenrod. Seas of drying prairie grass. All signaled the shift to September days.
I love this time of year. Sunny days give way to cool evenings to brisk mornings. I’ve pulled the flannel from the closet. I embrace the feeling, the glory, of each day, recognizing such days are fleeting.
But weeks before this end of September, I delighted in the final days of August with that short walk through the woods at River Bend, then along a grass-lined trail to the hilltop Prairie Loop before I retraced my steps.
Prairie grasses, looming well above my head, bent in the wind. I noted the gracefulness of the stems’ movement, the details on a single stalk. If you’ve ever paused to study a stalk, it’s almost like reading a poem. Grain after grain after grain ladders a slim line. In poetry, each word ladders into a line, into a verse, into a poem.
In the flashlight of the afternoon at River Bend, I spotted a lone Monarch flitting among thistles, black-outlined orange wings contrasting with the soft purple of the bloom. A metaphor. Or perhaps a simile when penned poetically. Poem upon poem upon poem.
Autumn edits out Summer, eliminating the excess wordage of a season that is lush and full and busy. Now the lines of the season shorten, every word carefully chosen, a harbinger of what lies ahead. Winter. Sparse. Barren. Cold.
But until then, Autumn settles in with the familiarity of a worn buffalo plaid flannel shirt. With the familiarity of cattails and milkweed bursting. Goldenrods. Tall prairie grasses drying, moving toward dormancy. I’ve seen this shift every September for past sixty years now. Yet I never tire of the shift, the change in seasons here in southern Minnesota.
© Copyright 2022 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
This recent posting is by far one of the most eloquent ones you have posted. Each word executed is carefully crafted to spin image after image for the reader. So well done!!
Thank you for your words of praise. I am grateful for you and for your thoughts on this poetic post.
Beautiful words and illustrations to accompany. Thank you for sharing Minnesota fall with us.
Thank you. I’ve been thinking of you and yours today, hoping Hurricane Ian doesn’t affect you.
We are actually in Ohio this week – headed home tomorrow. Looks like we won’t get too much from it if it keeps turning. A little wind and rain so hopefully not too bad. Thanks for thinking of us.
Safe travels. And, yes, hopefully all will be OK for you back home in NC.
Exceptional photos. I can feel both the calm of the frisson of pending change.
Laura, I especially appreciate your specific comment on the merging of my images and words to set a scene of change.
Such a beautiful post to go with my favorite season. You have done it proud
Thank you. Yes, love this season…
Lovely post. It reminds me of the book “Daniel Finds a Poem”!
I love that my post reminds you of a book.
So true, fall is like a poem! Loved your shot of the leaves the different contrast of light green and almost black is very creative!
I know you miss fall in MN. I hope this takes you back.
Lovely post, Audrey. ❤
So sweet of you to say that, Penny.
Autumn settles quietly here in southeastern MA as well.
Settles quietly. I like that. Thank you for commenting from MA.