From changing leaves to fond memories, Autumn is Carrie's favorite season.

Fall is my favorite season. Who doesn't enjoy observing the leaves from the trees and plants changing into multi-colored works of art before finally falling away? The bare and vulnerable branches that are created reveal the true and beautiful scenery underneath. There are many reasons why I love fall and why I think it's the best season, but here are just a few.

The Trees Change Color

In the southern part of the United States, all the seasons are very apparent. The spring season is very green, the summer is very hot, the winter is very cold and the fall is full of magnificent colors.

The maple trees are especially vibrant with colors of red and golden-yellow and combinations of both. When I was younger, we called them "tree stars," a reference to the movie The Land Before Time. To this day, they are my favorite trees when the season changes.

This season is perfect for taking beautiful scenic photos and spending time outdoors. Nothing can relax and rejuvenate you more than enjoying nature and its surrounding scenery.

The Weather Is Perfect

Autumn is the "cooling off" month right between the blazing summer and chilling winter. When the cooler temperatures of fall start rolling in, saying goodbye to summer is not hard to do. Autumn is a great time to break out the jackets, coats, boots, scarves and hats in preparation for the change in season.

It's also the perfect time to start making hot cocoa and lighting a fire in the fireplace. This season creates the perfect setting for a sense of comfort, warmth and reflection.

It's also great time to go camping or fishing or take a road trip or anything else where you can spend quality time with family while eating good food.

The Sun Hangs Low in the Early Morning

While 4:00 pm sunsets aren't everyone's cup of tea, daylight savings time offers stunning views of the sun in the sky during daybreak. The glitter of frost or rain from the night before is always a beautiful sight. Did I mention how perfect the lighting is for the all-important selfie after that early morning run? And who didn't enjoy that extra hour of rest on the first morning of daylight savings?

Fall Is Full of Family Holidays

Autumn is a part of of the jam-packed holiday season. There's the back-to-school rush, Halloween, and Thanksgiving before rolling into winter and Christmas. And these aren't just regular old holidays. These are all very involved, family-centered holidays.

Autumn is the season to be thankful and to be surrounded by the people you love. It's the perfect time to change up your decorations by adding orange, red and yellow colors and to pull out the spice-scented candles.

The holiday season encourages you to spend time thinking about what you and your family have been through in the last year as well as the memories you've made together while looking forward to a new and exciting year.

Another reason I love the holidays is the food. You'll generally eat far better food during this season than you will during the rest of the year.

The Seasonal Shopping Is Awesome

During the fall you can expect to see your favorite stores load up their inventory with themes related to this time of year. Everything from pumpkin-flavored pies and Starbucks drinks to apple ciders and new fragrances and clothes hit the shelves. Below are a few fall essentials that you shouldn't be caught without.

Must-Have Fall Shopping Essentials

• Flannel Shirts. Although they exhibit year-round versatility, flannels are a fall staple.
• Lotion. Cold weather means dry skin. Counter the elements with yummy, seasonal scents.
• Soup. When is there a better time of year to eat soup (besides winter)?
• Cold Weather Boots. Everyone needs a go-to pair of boots that are not only fashionable, but can tackle any ice, rain, or chilly weather.

Items on Discount in the Fall

Whether stores are attempting to clear inventory for new models or get rid of items that were essential during summer, fall provides an opportunity to save big on the following purchases:

• Sunglasses
• Appliances
• Patio Furniture
• Cars
• Denim

Some of the Worst Things About Fall

What's the good without the bad? Both fall-lovers and haters alike can agree on these points about the worst things that the fall season brings . . .

• Shorter days. Feeling like it's 9:00 pm at 5:00 pm isn't all that it is cracked out to be.
• The influx of scary movies. At least the new Halloween movie broke records.
• Layering. You like being cozy and bundled up, you say. But what about the extra laundry?
• Raking leaves. Someone out there feels my pain on this one.
• Winter creeps in. And suddenly it's freezing.

Profound Symbolism Associated With Fall

Underneath the surface of all the obvious reasons we love fall lie those more subtle associations rooted in science, ancient tradition and astrology.

• Balance. The Fall Equinox represents the balance between the seasons as well as the balance between light and dark. Fall provides an opportunity for us to balance ourself with our earth.
• Change. In tandem with spring, fall is a part of a beautiful cycle of loss, regeneration and regrowth. The dead leaves and branches on the ground disintegrate and become part of the soil, acting as seeds and fertilizer later once the cold welcomes the warmer weather.
• Conservation. Farmers and critters alike work tirelessly during this time of year to protect the basic necessities of life. We as people also work to preserve our comfy abodes like the animals do with their hibernation spaces.

Fall Brings Back Memories

Fall was my mother's favorite season. Every year it creates a flood of memories when it rolls around, reminding me of the beautiful person she was.

Her demeanor changed when the weather started getting cooler, as she would spend more and more time outdoors. She had a sense of peace and thankfulness that I hope to convey to those around me.

Of course, we all have different memories scattered throughout different parts of the year, but it seems like those colorful memories from fall can be relived the truest.

"The Mist and All" (A Fall Poem)

I like the fall,
The mist & all.
I like the night owl's
Lonely call
And wailing sound
Of wind around.

I like the gray
November day,
And bare, dead boughs
That coldly sway
Against my pane.
I like the rain.

I like to sit
And laugh at it
And tend
My cozy fire a bit.
I like the fall
The mist and all.

—Dixie Willson

My mother used to quote this poem all the time, but even more so when autumn was in full swing. It's one of the many things I learned from her when I was young—that poems have a way of capturing your soul and uncovering a deeper connection within yourself.

Fall Season Quotes

• "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." —Albert Camus
• "Autumn . . . the year's last, loveliest smile." —William Cullen Bryant
• "Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." —Stanley Horowitz
• "Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." —George Eliot
• "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." —F. Scott Fitzgerald

© 2011 Carrie Smith

Comments

Petite Teacher on November 29, 2019:

I love the following 5 things about fall

Anjali Singh Bhardwaj on February 28, 2019:

autumn has a special feeling that no other season have

Sam on November 22, 2018:

I love this season BCZ it is beautiful

Abdul on November 21, 2018:

It's a good idea I'm easy ,

james on November 03, 2018:

I like autumn because for me it' has the most comfortable weather for jogging. The temperature is not too hot too cold.And I enjoy the gentle breeze as I jog in the park.

JAVAD on October 29, 2018:

Very good,autumn is king season

Jazzy on October 15, 2018:

Great essay!

Priya on October 12, 2018:

I just love autumn season

donald trumpy on October 02, 2018:

yor paragraph is litty

Kathy Bui on August 21, 2018:

There are many beautiful days in Autumn. Trees change color, and the weather is not too hot but not too cold. The leaves begin to fall from the trees, the birds leave, and there seems to be a kind of sadness in the air. It is not a happy season like spring. Autumn is a sad season, but I always like it. It is my favorite season.

fag on June 05, 2018:

thx now i can do my speesh

zozo on April 29, 2018:

It help me do my h.w and it really nice essa6

Abdul Moeed on April 11, 2018:

The essay is magnificent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anam on March 12, 2018:

Fantastic ....

EliteEric on October 11, 2017:

I agree with Ane

Jack Meser on October 11, 2017:

eh better than winter

Edward Bean on October 11, 2017:

I love fall!!!! rawr XD

Harambe on September 15, 2017:

Better than the spring.

Princess on July 05, 2017:

Fall is also my favorite season because you can stay inside and snuggle. You can get to bed at 7pm without hearing any noise. It gets dark earlier. The cold represents the warmer season. The leaves are also very beautiful and colorful.

Ayushi on April 24, 2017:

Nice season

Tenzin on February 24, 2017:

Wonderful essay

crystal mangual on September 28, 2016:

Let me just tell you I LOVE how you wrote this. And you are right fall is the best season ever. Fall is definetly the most wonderful time of the year!! :)

niky on August 04, 2016:

amazing story

Tigana Bryan on November 24, 2015:

And don't forget the awesome fall makeup trends! Matte dark lipstick, winged liner, and matte foundation!!! (I might wear that all year round lol)

Tharushi on September 26, 2015:

autumn is my favourite season.i love it very much as i can.i write a book about autumn too.your essay also very beautiful as real sense of the word.good bye.

Katharine L Sparrow from Massachusetts, USA on September 15, 2014:

I live in the Northeast U.S., so summer is my favorite time of year. Generally not too hot here all summer long. In September I go all melancholy and it's hard to avoid feelings of depression. However, I do agree that the scenery is exquisite and it's a good time to do outdoor things before the cold of winter sets in. I absolutely LOVED the poem your Mom taught you! Going to keep that one! Great hub!

ane on May 30, 2014:

no way spring is a hell of a lot better

gia on April 12, 2014:

best season of the world.I love fall .I like the beauty of fall .

THANKS

Carrie Smith (author) from Dallas, Texas on February 12, 2012:

Thank you for the wonderful comments! I love this season :)

Linda Bilyeu from Orlando, FL on December 04, 2011:

We don't have much of a Fall in FL so I appreciate the photos and this hub! Up/Awesome/Beautiful:)

icciev from Kuwait on October 14, 2011:

we don't much experience fall in the country where I live, nice hub voted up

David Stillwell from Sacramento, California on October 14, 2011:

ah... applecsmith! I thought about you and this hub today. I got to drive through the Napa Valley today on my way to Cobb Mountain. The grapes in the valley are all starting to turn their winter colors... but the maples on the way to Cobb were in awesome display. Great hub!

Carrie Smith (author) from Dallas, Texas on October 14, 2011:

Thank you for the amazing comments. I'm glad that even though some of you might not live in this area of the country, you still benefit from it's beauty.

Admiral - so glad you understood my reference to "tree stars" :)

Admiral_Joraxx from Philippines on October 14, 2011:

Excellent post! Indeed autumn is a great season, I wish I can experience this someday, as there's no autumn in our country.=) Hey Applecsmith, I'm also a great fan and follower of The Land Before Time and their favorite "Tree stars". It was a great movie. 1 vote up and beautiful.

Aceblogs from India on October 14, 2011:

Autumn season has always proven out to be best for me for past 7 years . Hope this story continues for me in future as well. Very nicely explained hub. Images out there are very colorful and so full of life. Thanks

tailgatingguru from Atlanta, GA on October 09, 2011:

Beautiful! It is absolutely the best!

Don A. Hoglund from Wisconsin Rapids on October 08, 2011:

I've always like fall.When I was young I did outside stuff like paint the house.

A.CreativeThinker on October 08, 2011:

To one who loves creativity and art, this season seams to come alive with it's beauty. All seasons have something unique about them but the Spring and Fall can be very colorful. Lovely photos. Voted Up! Take Care :)

Regards,

A.CreativeThinker

jean2011 from Canada on October 06, 2011:

I too like the comfortable temperatures, and yes the lovely colours of leaves. Great for picture taking. I voted this hub beatiful. Thank you for sharing!

TattooKitty from Hawaii on October 05, 2011:

I agree- autumn is the best season! I've always been enchanted by the beauty of the leaves changing color. Yet, living in Hawaii, I've never been able to experience it in person. Definitely on my bucket list! Beautiful hub ;)

Om Paramapoonya on October 05, 2011:

Lovely hub. I grew up in Thailand where most trees are evergreen. The first year I moved to the U.S., I was really amazed to see a bunch of trees changing color. :)

Aeron Wright on October 05, 2011:

Great photos! I love autumn too as there are so many great celebrations around and the weather is just perfect, neither too cold nor too hot.

RTalloni on October 04, 2011:

Yes! Bravo on this fall season essay! :) To have one's mother quote such a poem--how lovely! Beautiful hub in every way--thank you for sharing it with us. Voted up.

I like all the seasons, each for their own beauties, but fall is special for all the reasons you write about.

Carrie Smith (author) from Dallas, Texas on October 04, 2011:

Thank you for the great comments. I hope everyone gets the opportunity to see the fall season in East Texas sometime in their life. It's breathtaking!

Kristin Trapp from Illinois on September 29, 2011:

The colors in that first photograph are just magnificient. I hope our trees are that colorful this year in IL. Autumn is hands-down my favorite season.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on September 29, 2011:

The trees don't show as much color down here as they do up north...but it is still a beautiful time of year. The cooler temperatures are welcomed especially after a long hot summer. You have given some great reasons why it is your favorite time of year and I'm sure that many people will agree.

katrinasui on September 27, 2011:

I love Autumn! You have explained the topic very well.

Marisa Hammond Olivares from Texas on September 22, 2011:

Beautiful images! Fall is so colorful - wish we could experience it in South Texas :(

Carrie Smith (author) from Dallas, Texas on September 22, 2011:

I couldn't agree more! Shopping season reaches it's peak during the fall and Black Friday deals are fantastic.

I enjoy the smells, sounds and tastes of fall so much. Reading all these great comments has made my day, thanks a bunch.

MonetteforJack from Tuckerton, NJ on September 22, 2011:

Fall is definitely my favorite season. It is the most comfortable weather for me. The winds are just right and the air is scented with falling leaves and earthy pumpkins and squash. Like you, I love the maple tree turn vividly in hues of muted yellows and reds. Materially, I look forward to this season because this is the time of the year that I truly shop for next year's summer stuff and other things on Black Fridays. Like you, the fall is the start of frequent family gatherings. Still, it is relaxing ... The smell of coffee brewing is more intoxicating at this time, so with hot cocoa, served with a bit of peppermint and mini-marshmallows. I also love Fall because of Thanksgiving. This is a breathtaking hub, I could go on and on why I love Fall. Thanks!

cardelean from Michigan on September 21, 2011:

Fall is definitely the most beautiful season. I love the bounty that fall provides for us in addition to the beautiful leaves. Thank you for sharing such wonderful thoughts about fall.

AmandaJoy on September 21, 2011:

Fall is my favorite season too! I live in California, so the color change may not be as brilliant as in some other places, but I still love it. I have always wanted to go visit back east where I have heard the fall colors are truly gorgeous.

Dave Mathews from NORTH YORK,ONTARIO,CANADA on September 21, 2011:

Autumn is my favorite season too. Not just for all the beauty in color, but also for the fact that autums is harvest time for many of our farm produce and fruits.

SJmorningsun25 on September 21, 2011:

I love autumn, too! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Carrie Smith (author) from Dallas, Texas on September 21, 2011:

It's so nice to hear that everyone else loves the fall season like I do. It's a great time to take photos, enjoy the weather and reminisce.

I almost love spring as much as fall, but not quite. Thanks for the great comments.

inaniLoquence from Singapore on September 20, 2011:

Autumn is absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, we don't have it here in Southeast Asia. Instead, we enjoy/suffer rainy and dry seasons throughout the year. It's the tropical paradise but it would be fantastic to experience the Autumn months!

Victoria Lynn from Arkansas, USA on September 20, 2011:

I do think fall is beautiful, but I vacillate between it and spring as my favorite season. Fall reminds me that winter is coming, and I loathe winter. Spring gives me hope that warmer, brighter days are coming. Still, the colors of fall are incredible. And the poem is adorable. Very nice hub! I voted many things on this one!

ignugent17 on September 20, 2011:

I agree Fall is the best season not too hot and not too cold. My husband loves it also. The thing that I really don't like is the sun goes down early and I can't enjoy more the temperature outside , cook outs and look at nature at its best. I still love Fall second to Spring, then Summer last is Winter. Your pictures are very beautiful thanks.

marellen on September 20, 2011:

I also wrote a hub on this same subject. It seems to be most everyones favorite. Love you pics and article. I could just feel your excitement. Enjoy.....

Sciborgs from New York on September 20, 2011:

Nice pictures used! Fall is easily my favorite season, beautiful scenery, that perfect "not to hot, not to cold weather", and, of course, Halloween is in the Fall, love Halloween!

JS Matthew from Massachusetts, USA on September 20, 2011:

Fall is my favorite season! I got my camera ready this year and waiting for the leaves to change, then I can publish a Photo Journey! I am lucky to live in New England! Great Hub! Voting up and sharing!

JSMatthew~

Mamadrama from Upstate NY on September 20, 2011:

Best Season EVER!! I love Autumn!

flagostomos on September 20, 2011:

I hear you. I absolute love autumn as well. Something about it reminds me of simpler times, back when I was a kid and Fall meant going back to school. My favorite is Saturday afternoon, when the sun is starting to head under the horizon and the afternoon sky feels hazy. It's like bright but not bright at the same time. The air smells crisp and life just comes to a stand still.

But to be honest with you I love all the seasons for different reasons.

David Stillwell from Sacramento, California on September 20, 2011:

I love the Autumn months. I enjoy the way the trees change and the weather can be warm and cool at the same time. The sky is full of geese and clouds and the wind is a flutter with all that nature must do to prepare for winter. A really great hub Applecsmith! very well written and full of wisdom.

andrewwilliams63 on September 20, 2011:

When the sun is out Autumn is beautiful, unfortunately that doesn't happen much in the UK!