Despite passing Autumn Equinox, I feel like I’ve missed the autumnal signals this year. I don’t know what would make me notice more. Perhaps when the leaves of my Japanese Maple in my backyard turns red and the leaves have fallen everywhere? Or perhaps when I am finally energetic enough to drive 10 minutes up the nearest mountain and do what I do every year – search for autumn colors in trees?

Or maybe the garden mums are blooming once again?

By the time I took this photo, a lot of the blooms have already faded. My garden mums aren’t looking as fabulous as the two years prior when it first bloomed. I wonder if it’s a water issue. Also, somehow, it’s gotten out of shape. Maybe I’ll just cut it to the ground this year and let it grow back. Maybe then, it will shape itself back into a globe shape.

Autumn also means Asters are in bloom, which I also missed this year. This photo is from last year. It’s tricky with Asters, they bloom nearly all at the same time and then depending on the weather, the blooms can last a week or a few days. This year, by the time I finally grabbed my camera, most of the blooms have already faded.

As I wrote at the beginning, I need to get myself up the nearest mountain. This was what I saw on top of the nearest mountain but that was in early October. Each year is different, I think, and I fear that if I go too early, then I’d be disappointed and if I go too late, then I’d also be disappointed.

It’s a conundrum, all right.

Inspired by SundayStills