Fall beauty – Dear Liza

Colors Close to Home

Dear Liza,

It’s been very cold for a few days, and today I just didn’t feel like venturing very far from home.

Fortunately, there are plenty of lovely colors right outside our door! The leaves, before they turn to mush, what we call “ leaf jam”, make a mighty pretty carpet.

Our gardeners blew tons of leaves onto the parkway, where they just sit and look great.

And, looking carefully, I caught this perfect leaf perched in a bush. How can we mourn for summer when we have this beauty?

Love,

Grandma Judy

Crayon Box Season, Again

Dear Liza,

When we first moved to Portland in 2017, I was stunned by the intensity of the fall colors. My amazement hasn’t gone away.

Just walking home from the market is a joy when you pass these lovelies. And I love walking down sidewalks when they become tunnels of ever-changing color.

Doing clean-up at the Blair Community garden is hard work, but I get to visit these zinnias… higher than my head, orange as the sun and very popular with the bees.

Yep, Portland is mighty pretty in the fall… a good way for the trees to let us know they are going to take a nice long nap.

But me, I’m not going anywhere.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Fall Update 2023

Dear Liza,

Our weather has gotten cold! We are looking at 41 F in the mornings, getting up to a still-chilly 53 F. The sunshine keeps it pleasant, but I am wearing three layers most days.

I love this time of year for many reasons, though. The time change and shorter winter days makes sunset-watching practical during after-dinner walks.

The trees are letting their leaves down, and people are very busy raking them up! Portland city has huge scoopers and trucks to come fetch the leaves, but you have to get them into the street. Yesterday, our neighbor April was out getting her exercise.

In Laurelhurst Park, families were making the most of the season. A girl and her mom were choosing just the prettiest leaves for table decorations.
Mom had her hands full and said, “Are we going to be able to use all these?”

The girl said, “We can’t put them back! They’re all so pretty!”

I agree!

I hope you are staying warm and having fun..

Love,

Grandma Judy

Walking into Fall

Dear Liza,

I had a great walk down to Auntie Katie’s last week. The weather has just started to get rainy, and the slugs are coming out to celebrate. This fellow was halfway up a window!

Heading down Belmont Street, I saw our favorite restaurant, Blutos, getting their firewood delivered for their Greek inspired, wood fired yummies.

Sidewalk art is a big thing here in Portland. It is easy, inexpensive, and temporary! This lovely piece, done on one square of sidewalk cement, says “Long love the revolution of sun and water.”
Not a bad sentiment on these rainy, sometimes sunny days.

The mushrooms have noticed all the rain, and are sprouting all over. This tiny forest formed on a step just four inches high, as full of life as any hillside. How beautiful is this?

I’ll show you what came next, tomorrow!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Glowing Fall

Dear Liza,

We had a slow walk around Laurelhurst Park on Thanksgiving, to settle our dinner and enjoy being out in the world. Laurelhurst was planted in 1913, so most of the trees are huge. It feels like a tame forest and is my favorite place in the city.