Ann Arbor Fall

Autumn in Ann Arbor

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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

Yellow
Scenic View Nichols Arboretum

Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter. ~ Carol Bishop Hipps

Gallup Park
Kayaking Ann Arbor

Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree. ~ Emily Bronte

Family Walk Ann Arbor
Nichols Arboretum

Autumn wins you best by this, its mute appeal to sympathy for its decay. ~ Robert Browning

Autumn Leaves
Pumpkin Patch

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23 Comments

  1. 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!

  2. 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!

    1. “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. 🙂

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  5. 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.

  6. What wonderful photographs! The colors, the landscape and the quietness are all so very inviting. Thanks for sharing these autumn pics 🙂

  7. 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).

  8. 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!

  9. Gorgeous autumn photos! Fall is a beautiful season, especially where you are! Thanks for sharing!

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