Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!

Lucky us living in Queensland! If we were living in temperate latitudes, autumn would mean it was the time to start making sure our chimneys were swept, that we were laying up large cords of chopped wood, and that our roofs were in sound condition for the coming winter snows.

So what is all this ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’? If you remember your high school poetry you’ll recognise it as by John Keats. Critics and scholars have praised the poem enthusiastically, declaring To Autumn one of the most perfect poems in the English language.

Of course it refers to the northern hemisphere autumn, and the approaching winter, a time of hardship. Having to cope with floods and cyclones during summer in SE Queensland it’s just as well we’re spared the harsh winters — that would be just too much to handle. And besides, that’s why everyone from down south wants to holiday here.

Harvest time

The word autumn comes from the Old French word autompne and around the 16^th century was altered to become the original Latin word autumnus. Before then, harvest was the term usually used to refer to the season. However, as more people gradually moved from working the land to living in towns, the word harvest lost its reference to the time of year and came to refer only to the activity of reaping.

So what do we expect in autumn in our part of the world? Although it signals the start of shorter days, longer nights, and crisp mornings sometimes in SE Queensland the start of autumn seems to be simply an extension of summer. March can still bring sweltering days when the last thing we want to do is shop for winter clothes.

Warm days and cool nights

By the time Anzac Day on 25^th April rolls around the days are glorious; however you only have to be one of the reverent souls to attend the dawn service to know it can be a bit nippy. Easter brings school holidays and it’s a toss-up if it’s going to still be warm enough for a swim but the kids usually don’t care.

May brings its own delights, by now we’re sure to feel the change of season. The thought of snuggling with a good book and some hot chocolate seems a definite possibility. May Day celebrated on the first of the month is now a holiday to celebrate the worker but originally it was the day of the Maypole a festive day to mark the end of the northern hemisphere winter.  Maybe it was the crowning of the Queen of the May that lead to the month being chosen for Mother’s Day — very conveniently timed for gifts of slippers and warm nighties.

Whatever we’re doing this autumn to prepare for winter, let’s hope we don’t need to put snowshoes on our shopping list.

Extract of magazine article 2011, used with permission of publisher