Connecticut gets to enjoy the classic New England autumn, though it was a L-O-N-G time coming this year. As late as a week ago we had temps in the 80's - which is fine for July, but not October. We've just now started a spell of proper crisp weather, the trees are turning colors, the leaves are falling, and occasionally there's the smell of woodsmoke on the evening air.

Autumn is my favorite season, and I just can't get enough of this weather. I love the cold and stillness of the early mornings, the sun-warmth and hard blue of the sky in the afternoon, and the smell of fallen leaves and the promise of frost. We were up in New Hampshire this past weekend and the colors are a bit further along there and the temperatures are a bit lower -- it was absolute bliss!

Kansas and it finally feels like Autumn. I put on a sweater when I went shopping and out to lunch. We had a storm go through last night and left plenty of moisture behind. I don't care much for heat so I find this very pleasant. The trees are not colorful yet.

Yes, though to me, the season is called Fall. No objection to Autumn, it's just that I like the descriptive name better.

We are actually getting a bit of rain. October is the start of our rainy season. It lasts until May, but many years we don't see any rain until November or December. Out entire average yearly rainfall is only 15 inches, and it can vary quite a bit, so the start of rain is a time of pleasure to me or anyone who gardens. We've had several days with rain showers, but I don't know if we are up to a full inch yet. Still, everything seems fresh and clean.

I too have been putting on a sweater mornings and evenings. I've been painting a couple of rooms, too, so with open windows it has actually been a bit chilly. I'm done now though.

Rosefolly

Oh, I wish. It is cooler - temps will be in the 80s this week, tho I would not be surprised if they went back to 90 before the month was out. The mornings and evenings are lovely for gardening and walking. But its not autumn yet - Usually it is by November, when even the desert is showing signs of change. (In northern az, they already are showing off their leaves, a gorgeous sight.)

Autumn is slowly working its way into Orlando. No, it's not like Fall up North, but it's very welcome none the less. The humidity is dropping - skies are clearer and bluer during the day, the lawn is less soggy and we can see more stars at night. People are starting to linger outside again. This starts the best part of the year here and Central Florida celebrates this season like Northerners celebrate spring.

I try to like Autumn, I really do - but each year at this time I am shocked that the leaves are falling and astonished as the daylight hours grow shorter. I am painfully aware that the birdsong has diminished. I go out on the deck, look up and yell "Come back", but it never helps; summer is gone.
I have lived in MN for 36 years -- you'd think I be used to this by now! And winter..., well, let's not go there. Still, I hear comments from many people who truly love this season, and so I try, every year, to like Autumn. Maybe this will be the year?

We have had the most amazing Indian Summer here in the UK. We're used to rain, gloom and general chill in October - but this year, for the last two or three weeks, it's been like late spring. Went out last Saturday night with my wife to the Opera House (just thought I'd casually drop that into the conversation...!), and I just wore a suit - no overcoat - and my wife ended up carrying her coat most of the time. (And before you ask, the reason I wasn't carrying her coat for her, is because she'd gone into London early, and I was carrying her shopping.)

I even had to mow the lawn last weekend - though I think that will be the last time this year.

But the leaves are falling, nevertheless. The nights are DEFINITELY drawing in (and no Indian Summer can change that). One day soon, we'll realize that, belatedly, Autumn has properly arrived.

In Iceland this year's autumn has brought days upon days of pouring rain, interspersed with windy rainy days, foggy rainy days and the occasional burst of sunshine. Most of the leaves blew off the trees before they had the chance to turn properly yellow. The days are getting short - I am now getting up at twilight to go to work, and in a couple of weeks I will be getting up while it's still dark.

The skies look magnificent with all the clouds and we have been having some gorgeous sunsets.

Today it looks like it's going to be sunny.

Liz, in this part of Western England we are enjoying mild temps (60's F during the day) but little in the way of Autumn colour. Unless we get a sudden frost or strong wind the still- green leaves usually fall off out of sheer boredom.
The days are really drawing in and it is more or less dark by 6.30pm and doesn't get light until after 7am. The clocks go back on the 28th; allow the few days until 5th November (Guy Fawkes Night) and winter is upon us . . . although it may not get very cold.
Lawn mowing still very necessary, though not always carried out and in these warmer times it is not unusual for some mowing to be carried on right through the winter.
Liz, do you remember the Autumn ritual of blackberrying? This year some early wild bushes were ready from August and I managed to pick a good supply only the other day . . . despite the old saying that the Devil p*** on October berries!
In the UK it is always possible to pick from hedgerows around the edges of fields, remembering to avoid those containing inquisitive cattle. Farmers do not shoot you on sight if you go on their land, although you are expected to observe the 'Country Code', shutting gates, keeping dogs on leads etc.
nb for non-UK RP'ers blackberries are usually cooked with apple either in pies or just stewed up and either eaten as a dessert (pudding) or as we do served with cereal at breakfast.
It is about the only berry that grows wild over here as we don't have the acid soils as some of you do for blueberries etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: UK Countryside Code

It's just barely been fall here--still much too warm and no frost yet. I've had only two small fires, most nights I still leave the window in the bedroom open! And we've still had no rain--the driest I've seen it in 35 years.

I miss fall--the crisp days and chilly nights.

Spring for me - the lawn is starting to grow, we have had a couple of warm days and it is light now when I go out to run the dog at 5:30am. I much prefer spring and summer.

>This starts the best part of the year here and Central Florida celebrates this season like Northerners celebrate spring.

Yep, that sounds like our attitude in the southwest deserts. You can almost hear the collective sigh of relief.

Kansas again here. It was 66 in the house this morning. I would have left it like that and opened the blinds, but I had...had my bedroom fan on and I was cold when I got up. I turned the furnace on to take the chill off and set the thermostat at 68. The sun is shinning which has not happened for 3 or 4 days. I need to get out and pot my spider plant. My neighbor wants the main plant, another neighbor wants some of the babies and I stuck several babies in the ground while attached to the main plant, to pot for me. So I get to play in the dirt today.

Yes and no. We are in a drought here in Tidewater, Virginia. The dessicated leaves are dropping off the trees and some trees have died. We still are having Indian Summer, although now cooler nights have turned some leaves red: dogwood and maples, mostly. Last week temps were up in the 90's here and I even encountered a snake....

What means fall to us is lower humidity and being able to open up one's windows at night, as well as morning fog off the nearby James River. Now we see the goldenrod in bloom as well as purple gentian in the woods. I always love the raucous cries of the Canada geese, many of which winter in our part of Virginia. That sound, and the sound of nuts falling, speaks of autumn to me....

Autumn is beautiful here in the southern tier of New York State.
Our summer and fall have both been unseasonably warm and sunny with blue skies most of the time........an unusual thing for us!
Temperatures are around 60 degrees and it is shirt sleeve weather for most people.
The orchards in our area have had the best apple season ever and apple picking is at it's peak.
We have picked several bushels and I have been busily baking pies for the three grandchildren who absolutely can never have enough apple pie ( or any other kind for that matter!)
We have an expression: PIE FIXES EVERYTHING!

Pumpkins are out in abundance, the leaves are turning colors ( although not as brilliant as usual because of the very warm summer and lack of rain).

It is just a wonderful season. There is plenty of warmth and time to plant hundreds of daffodil bulbs for the spring, mow down the perennial beds and prepare them for winter and generally gear down for a long winter's nap!

Yvonne

Autumn, fall, höst. Our Swedish word for autumn shares the same root as English harvest, and that's what we do. We pick apples and have been making apple sauce the last three weekends. We have a mild autumn and mowed the lawn yesterday for the last time this year. But Martin, we are told in Swedish garden magazines that the British mow their lawns the year round? The last garden bench is under cover, it is getting too cold to sit outside and we have to admire the fall colours while walking briskly. Not many rosebuds will open now but I find it hard to cut them yet. Perhaps we will have another warm spell. It's 54F now (and feels like 57 according to CNN).