Autumn in Ann Arbor
Words by Dalene Heck / Photography by Pete Heck
Growing up in Alberta, our falls were unremarkable. There was little variation in the changing colors of the leaves – a lot of yellow, brown, and if we were lucky, splashes of orange. Autumn never lasted long either, with strong winds coming off the mountains, the trees were completely bare within a couple of weeks. It was my favourite season for so many reasons and then disappointing for others.
When we knew that we wanted to take a short break from travel and settle in North America during that time, we were really excited when this opportunity in Michigan came up for one significant reason – the pure artistry of a midwestern fall.
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower ~ Albert Camus
Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter. ~ Carol Bishop Hipps
Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree. ~ Emily Bronte
Autumn wins you best by this, its mute appeal to sympathy for its decay. ~ Robert Browning
Wow – beautiful pictures. I’m from Nova Scotia and I’ve always taken for granted how gorgeous the fall foliage is; must learn to appreciate it more!
Fall is the BEST season – if you have a good one, be sure to enjoy it!
I’m also from Alberta and was so autumn naive until I did an internship while in University in Ottawa. I lived in Quebec’s Gatineau valley and the autumn colours were spectacular! Now autumn is arguably my favourite season!
“Autumn naive” – haha! I felt that way about winter too after leaving Alberta – aren’t all winters supposed to suck the life out of you and leave you frost bitten and crying? Well no, there are actually places out there where winter can be nice. 🙂
Although I have never really been an autumn girl, your photos certainly make me appreciate this time of year. You have a way of capturing the uniqueness of a place and show people its raw beauty. I’m very fascinated by your work.
Thank you so much Miriam!
Stunning! Where I grew up in New Zealand we didn’t get the magnificent colours either, same thing in London and where I live now in Sydney, Australia. I love Vancouver and New England in Fall and I would love to be in the Mid West for it at some stage too as I have only been there in summer
I grew up in Ypsilanti, next door to AA. I have lived in Colorado for 22 years and especially miss the fall colors in the Midwest. I’m glad you got to experience them in one of my favorite towns.
We’re really glad we got here just in time too. 🙂
There really is nothing like it. Southern Spain barely has seasons, and I always find myself in a bit of a rut when it’s summer one week and winter the next!
What wonderful photographs! The colors, the landscape and the quietness are all so very inviting. Thanks for sharing these autumn pics 🙂
That’s exactly why autumn is my favourite season! So beautiful!
I love Ann Arbor. I’m from Toledo so Ann Arbor was a little getaway spot for some culture and different food shopping (ie Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods).
Gorgeous pictures! A colorful fall is one of the things about N. America that we missed while living abroad. Completely agree with Camus about Autumn. 🙂
Been there!
I don’t miss many things about my home of Washington State, but autumn is definitely one of them. It is such a special time of year!
Ahhh, autumn. I LOVE it. And autumn in Michigan, I learned this year, is especially beautiful!
Glad you didn’t steal all the autumn before we got here Amanda. 🙂
I would love autumn more if it could lead into Spring – why can’t we just skip winter?
Gorgeous autumn photos! Fall is a beautiful season, especially where you are! Thanks for sharing!
Stop. Stop it right now with all this beauty. Another reason why fall is one of the best seasons!
I love forests and trees! I live in SoCal but grew up in the Midwest and miss the changing of the seasons, this look like a perfect autumn escape!