"What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance." - Jane Austen
Yep, that about sums up the summer months here in Arizona. The triple digits have now disappeared from the forecast, but that may not be saying much as it reached 99 degrees yesterday, and 96 degrees today. But I have to say, one of the nice things about this time of the year is that it begins to cool down overnight into the 60s. Below are pictures of some of the fall decorations I have up in my home.
This is a little arrangement I have on the table by the front window.
I've had this little ceramic scarecrow for years. It actually lights up which is why you see the yellow glow coming from the pumpkin head.
I have these little scarecrows in a number of plants around my home.
This little ceramic owl is a tealight holder. I use the battery operated tealights because the space is really small and I don't want it getting sooty. Also, it doesn't pose a fire hazard if I forget about it.
By the time fall rolls around here in Arizona, people are ready for it. The heat really does become oppressive and when the monsoon arrives bringing with it much needed rain, the humidity can at times be unbearable. Toward the end of August/beginning of September, I begin to feel what amounts to cabin fever. The windows have been closed for what seems like forever, and engaging in many outdoor activities for any length of time can sometimes prove difficult due to the extreme heat.
With the arrival of fall in
North Dakota/Minnesota, where I grew up, came the need to switch out my summer
clothing for warm, cozy sweaters, and begin turning my thoughts to making sure
my car was properly “winterized” for the frigid temperatures that were sure to
come. Fireplaces would soon be roaring,
filling the air with the undeniable scent of wood smoke, and all around one
could see the leaves changing color. It
wasn’t long after I moved to Arizona
that I realized these yearly rituals were no longer necessary. There is no need for sweaters in September,
or even October for that matter, unless one is sitting in an overly
air-conditioned coffee house or movie theater, and it isn’t until late October
that most people turn to their fireplaces for warmth.
But I’ve learned to appreciate
the fall season in Arizona
for what it is. After months of
oppressive heat, there’s nothing like walking outside in the mornings to the
cool air, and the lower temperatures at night provide perfect sleeping
weather. Everything is lush and green
from the rain we receive during the monsoon, and the house has a freshness
about it due to the windows being once again open. The steady hum of air conditioning units so
prevalent in the neighborhood in the past few months will soon be silenced, and
dinners on the porch will once again be a common occurrence.
Another thing I like about
fall in Arizona
is that I get to bring out my home fragrance again. Candles, room sprays, and tarts once again fill
my home with fragrance. Although I use
these things on occasion during the summer months, due to the windows being
closed and the oppressive heat, home fragrance seems almost cloying at times,
and I just don’t enjoy it as much. It
seems I’ve always burned candles in my home, but I only discovered wax tarts
about ten years ago when I found some in a little candle and gift shop in
Sedona when we went into town after a hike to grab some lunch.
Events, Festivals, and Where to See Fall Colors
12 Fall Festivals in the Southeast Valley
AZCentral has listed on their website seventy-one fall festivals in the metro Phoenix area. For more information on the festivals, see the following link.
71 Fall Festivals in Metro Phoenix
Arizona is not the sandbox many people think it is, and there are a number of places in the state where one can see beautiful fall foliage. Below are some beautiful pictures along with descriptions courtesy of AZCentral. You can see more by visiting the following link.
Where to See Arizona's Fall Colors
Colorful leaves on the West Fork Trail of Oak Creek in northern Arizona.
The beauty of the San Francisco Peaks (Snow Bowl) with a dusting of snow and the color of fall leaves.
Fall foliage west of Kendrick peak in northern Arizona.
Fall foliage framing Sedona's Cathedral Rock.
A full spectrum of colors on display in the Oak Creek area.
The Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior has brilliant displays of fall color.
Fall foliage in Oak Creek Canyon, south of Flagstaff in northern Arizona.
Leaves starting to change into glorious colors on a group of trees near Flagstaff.
Time exposure of one hour catches star trails from Earth's rotation and 50 independent "pops" from a strobe light illuminate fall leaves near Hart Prairie north of Flagstaff.
The Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior has brilliant displays of fall color.
Colorful maple leaves contrast with cactus in the Pinal mountains just south of Globe.
Fall leaves floating down Haigler Creek, Tonto National Forest, southeast of Payson, Arizona.
The sun shines through sherbet-colored leaves in a grove at the Mogollon Rim in the Coconino National Forest.
Leaves changing color for the fall season.
Aspens in full fall colors at Arizona Snow Bowl in Flagstaff.
