When I walked out of my dorm this morning at 7:30 in the morning I saw frost on the ground. To me, the early frosts signal the end of summer. No more lazy summer days or jumping in the lake to cool down. I couldn’t have been more excited to see that frost.
Don’t get me wrong, I love summer! But fall–especially fall here on campus–is my favorite season. And it’s not just because my birthday is in October (one week until I’m 21, woo!). When it’s fall, it means I get to pile more blankets on my bed and finally pack away my bulky fan that takes up my entire windowsill. Students pull their Patagonias and North Face jackets out of the tubs under their beds (or, if you’re me, it’s a fleece from L.L. Bean). It’s sweatshirt and sweater season, folks.
Most of all I love the fall colors. I know that sounds cliché, but fall colors in Maine really are spectacular. I’ve lived through twenty Maine falls (granted I can probably only remember about fifteen of them), and I still get a little shiver of excitement when I see the first red leaf of the season. When I was driving back from Boston last weekend, I noticed that the leaves had already started to change. Now the change is really getting underway, and several trees on campus are beautiful shades of red and orange. When I walk out of the front doors of Miller after class, I usually just stand on the steps for a minute or two, drinking in the foliage. For some reason, these colors just make me happy!
My favorite thing to do in the fall here on campus is wander the trails in the Arboretum and on Runnals Hill. Since most of the trees on these trails are leafy, walking on the trails in the fall is like walking into a painting of brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges. If you have never heard of these trails, they are definitely something you need to check out next time you are on campus. Colby has an amazing expanse of woodsy paths that are great for running or, if you’re like me and running is an enemy, walking. Check out my friend Nick’s blog on the trails to get a better idea of what I’m talking about!
Before I go, I thought I’d leave you with a few pictures of Colby in the fall. Enjoy!
The beginning of fall colors! View from Johnson Pond.
The trees are starting to change!
It’s beginning!
Yellow is my favorite.
Walking in a world of color!
Until next time,
Morgan
