Autumn giving way to winter after the final burst of glow

While I enjoy gradual changing of the season, I realize surrounded by the splendour of  autumn usually from late November to early December. 



Recent chills of  December at last accelerated rapidly the delayed changing of Japanese maple leaves to vermillion or crimson.

In my impression, autumn starts and ends with red color.

Red color of Cluster Amaryllis (Spider Lilies) start blooming around the Autumnal Equinox Day. 

And red of Red Dragonflies.   Many Japanese people feel nostalgia for the bygone days by the song “Red Dragonfly” with which people have been familiar since their childhood.  The first stanza of the lyrics is....

Dragonflies, as red as sunset,               
Back when I was young                          
In twilight skies, there on her back I’d ride  
When the day was done   

赤とんぼ/Red Dragonflies: composed by Kosaku Yamada, lyrics by Rofu Miki, translated by Greg Irwin



Now autumn is going to end with red color after going through various colors of the seasonal plants as I have posted about and the numerous hues of colored leaves.

Aged maple trees at Keisoku-ji, Shiga Pref., last late November

The fiery red Japanese maple leaves look symbolizing the final burst of flame of life.

Still there are some maple leaves left green or just having started changing colors due to unusual warm October and November.

They are the last to fall to the ground after transforming and showing their rich and vibrant hues.   

Autumn at last gives way to winter with the whirling of the leaves. 

Autumn colors don't disappear soon.  The reds turn to rust and yellows to sienna.  There's something sad and yet beautiful about the colored leaves becoming muted with time.  Finally the leaves will become part of clay and enrich the soil to grow the trees. 

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