I still love the fall even though it's not nearly as dramatic here on the North Coast as it is where I grew up.<\/p>\n
Growing up in Ottawa, surrounded by eastern Ontario's and western Quebec's large deciduous forests, fall was a celebration of colour. The vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows were made all the more brilliant against the smattering of deep green conifers that grew among the maples, birches, and oaks.<\/p>\n
When we were kids, a standard rite of passage from summer to fall was a trip out to the Gatineau Hills to take in the foliage, which peaks right around the end of September\/early October.<\/p>\n
It was magical, driving through the canyons of colours on the rolling landscape, then getting out and frolicking in the dying leaves.<\/p>\n
We don't really get that here largely because our forests are dominated by conifers, mainly spruces, hemlocks, and cedars. But even the deciduous trees we do have don't get the rich, bright hues when they change.<\/p>\n
Further inland, in places such as the Bulkley Valley, where the forests are a bit more diverse, the colours tend to be more muted than back east. Of course, it varies a bit from year to year. Even around the Ottawa area, some autumns are better for colour than others.<\/p>\n
That's because the ideal conditions for producing anthocyanins (red pigments) in leaves are hot sunny days, followed by cold crisp nights.<\/p>\n
Our fall days do not generally get that kind of large fluctuation, and, as we all know, sunny isn't exactly a Prince Rupert thing.<\/p>\n
Still, there is something intangible about the transition from summer to fall. The air itself seems to change. The feeling of it is unmistakable, but describing it is elusive. It has something to do with cooler temperatures and less humidity, I think, but it is, nevertheless, comforting for some reason.<\/p>\n
The quality of the daylight also adds to the ambience of fall as the sun sinks lower on the horizon, scattering and diffusing light more weakly than at the height of summer.<\/p>\n
Between the changing leaves, cooler temperatures and diffuse light, the season almost takes on a bit of a melancholic atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Don't ask me why I've always been drawn to that mood.<\/p>\n
And don't get me wrong, joyful is great and downright gloomy can be very satisfying, but neither are sustainable. Melancholic is kind of neutral, comfortable, like Bruce Cockburn at his best. Songs like "Pacing the Cage" and "Southland of the Heart."<\/p>\n
I asked Bruce one time if he was also drawn to the mood and why. He said "yes," and "maybe it's because we are both chronic depressives."<\/p>\n
I don't think that's true, but fall evokes it, and I, for one, welcome it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Thom welcomes fall with its changing leaves, cooler temperatures and more diffuse light<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":156947,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-156936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-columnists","category-opinion"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n