My Harvest Basket

As the fall season begins and the colors start to change I find my thoughts lingering through the pictures held in my memory of the passing spring and summer. My harvest basket has greatly changed since its first trip to gather the goodies from the early gardens gifts. Once filled with pansies and lavender with purples and pinks galore, it now contains the shades of fall reflected in the skyline by the trees and by the pretty landscape scenes set forth by the neighboring homes adorned with mums and cornstalks. 

Although one could find almost any color present at any time of the year, we certainly seem to expect particular colors to dominate our palettes dependent on the season at hand. Following Mother Nature’s lead, home decor, fashion, and even our dinner plates all change their tones and shades with the seasons. This spectacular ride through the rainbow culminates at year’s end. The greens and reds of Christmas displayed by the dark green leaves of the holly with its vivid red berries till its last branch is hidden by the blanket of winters white, are mirrored in our attire, our celebrations, and our expectations. 

Here in New England (and in many other parts of the world) our eyes will soon enough be cleansed by winters gleaming white. Just as a rest carefully placed by the composers pen clears the listeners ears for what is soon to follow so does the winter rest our vision for what is soon to come. An extraordinary renewal each year as if the first, the colors of the seasons held in my harvest basket will once again give way to the bright face of the spring time flowers. I much prefer to tell the time not by a watch or clock but simply by which colors fill my harvest basket now.