Fall Foliage Denial and How to Cope
Dealing with Fall foliage denial
Have you started noticing that autumn is coming to an end? It’s a feeling that some refer to as “Fall Foliage Denial.” Unfortunately, there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it. A few years ago, I wrote about “the six steps of fall foliage,” and now I am updating it.
If you live in an area that has deciduous trees, you may have noticed that one of the trees near your home has been changing colors from green to shades of orange since August. Over the course of a few weeks, the tree’s leaves display a range of colors from orange to yellow, and perhaps even red. One morning, you look out and see that the tree is now at its peak, with its leaves exhibiting all the colors of the rainbow from top to bottom.
The following day, you notice that the colors of the leaves have continued to change, becoming slightly darker. As you observe the tree, you realize that a branch near the top is now devoid of leaves. And then, in the blink of an eye, most of the leaves have fallen to the ground, hopefully not in your own yard, but possibly in your neighbor’s.
So despair and denial are washing over you in waves. Is there any way to cope with these feelings?
Coping Mechanisms
First I’m not a Psychologist. These are just my random thoughts on this subject. (and things I found on the web!)
- My first thought that comes to mind is to curl up in a ball and sleep until spring when things start greening up. (Not practical if you have to work, and yes I do)
- Wrap yourself up in work and don’t stop until spring. (Also not good for you)
- Be one of those tough outdoor types who gets all worked up about fresh powder in the mountains so you have something to look forward to. Yes, I used to be like that, a long time ago and in a land far, far, away… (Not my last Star Wars reference)
- If you can find some nice leaves that are still colorful then start pressing them. I like the glycerin method to preserve my leaves. This way I can take them out in the off-season and enjoy their colors. (Note this may only prolong the despair and pain) I’ll let you know how it goes.
- Heather G. says “She is moving on to composition shots by gathering leaves around other objects and then embracing the fifth season (out of six) by using stick season to photograph those somber shots in graveyards. You know the type, gravestones in rows with old gnarled trees with branches reaching to the sky of gray”. (Thanks Heather)
- Make Excuses! – Yes, you heard me right. Make an excuse to get outside! Start taking regular walks with Any camera you have. Try to find the last of the leaves in your neighborhood.
- Work on all the images from this year or the previous year. If you don’t press them, make art out of them. Below you will see from start to finish something that caught my eye over the next year or so. Get lost in creating something that takes away your stress and gives you joy!
- Don’t let your mood dictate your plans. If you’re in a lousy mood then grab your camera and get outside. Maybe meet someone walking the neighborhood or go to a bookstore, just don’t be alone. If you have plans, don’t cancel them because of the mood. Most likely they will understand and just talking will bring about a mood change… Don’t forget the chocolate and wine (or candy corn).
- Get a daylight-balanced lamp for your desk or work area. These lights can trick your brain into feeling it’s summer. Ok with 4 feet of snow on the ground, it’s hard to trick your brain around that but you may feel better about shoveling it.
Denial runs strong in my line (imagine Darth Vader saying this and yes, that’s the last S.W. reference) and like every other autumn, I will keep looking for little signs like this shot from a past November 7th.
I’m going to keep looking for signs of the passing autumn so I hope you will continue to stop in and say Hi! (either here or on my Facebook page).
I can’t do anything about the lack of leaves on the trees or the number of leaves on the ground. But I can keep moving on to capture new images and remember The first day of Fall is only a short turn of the clock ahead and getting less every day!
Jeff Foliage Folger
Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage
- Visit my Fine Art America Gallery
- Visit my Amazon store to pick up New England-related materials
- Visit my Pictorem Gallery (Free shipping in the US and Canada)
- My Facebook foliage page
- Threads.net/@Jeff_Foliage
- Follow our new Fall Foliage FB Group!
- You can visit Lisa’s Artist Facebook Page by clicking here
The leaves may be fading, but Thanksgiving is just around the corner and can help extend the warm feelings.
This is true! I’m looking forward to good food and family things to do and all those are things to be positive about… Maybe I should add that…
The leaves may be fading, but Thanksgiving is just around the corner and can help extend the warm feelings.
This is true! I’m looking forward to good food and family things to do and all those are things to be positive about… Maybe I should add that…
Many things in life are transient… a lesson to be learned from fall foliage.
Many things in life are transient… a lesson to be learned from fall foliage.
Well, Jeff, for those of us who loathe hot weather, the approach of winter is in many ways easier to welcome than the approach of summer. I know, that’s easy to say for someone who can work from home with remote access to office computer….
Well as someone who has done the work from home I know being too cold or too hot is never good. I would assume if I was in the south or southwest that I would live for the cooler months of winter
Well, Jeff, for those of us who loathe hot weather, the approach of winter is in many ways easier to welcome than the approach of summer. I know, that’s easy to say for someone who can work from home with remote access to office computer….
Well as someone who has done the work from home I know being too cold or too hot is never good. I would assume if I was in the south or southwest that I would live for the cooler months of winter
Needed This Good to hear I’m not the only one feeling it’s passing
Needed This Good to hear I’m not the only one feeling it’s passing
Hi Jeff, can you tell me where the 2 images of the red leaves in this post are located on the fine art website? Thank u!
Hi Maureen, here is one of the maples overhead https://vistaphotography.pixels.com/featured/sugar-maple-in-fall-jeff-folger.html
The second image is this one from over in Marblehead https://vistaphotography.pixels.com/featured/brilliant-autumn-colors-on-a-marblehead-street-jeff-folger.html
Now if you were talking about one of the others, could you describe which on and I will locate it and put it up there. The close-up macro and the 4 panel shots are not up there. But the 4th panel of 4 is up there with what I wrote on it but I didn’t put the 4 together until this article…
Thank you for contacting me
Hi Jeff, can you tell me where the 2 images of the red leaves in this post are located on the fine art website? Thank u!
Hi Maureen, here is one of the maples overhead https://vistaphotography.pixels.com/featured/sugar-maple-in-fall-jeff-folger.html
The second image is this one from over in Marblehead https://vistaphotography.pixels.com/featured/brilliant-autumn-colors-on-a-marblehead-street-jeff-folger.html
Now if you were talking about one of the others, could you describe which on and I will locate it and put it up there. The close-up macro and the 4 panel shots are not up there. But the 4th panel of 4 is up there with what I wrote on it but I didn’t put the 4 together until this article…
Thank you for contacting me