Fall is my favorite season of the year. It's pretty much over here in Sheepville NW. The heavy rains in the past two days will wipe it out completely, pulling the yellow leaves from the big leaf maples lining Pike Street near the office.

It's nice to see so many new developments using deciduous trees. Like my Cosmic Twin now in SoCal, I grew up where there are no real seasons. To me, living in Seattle, every tree that changes is a gift, a mystery and something magical. There's more pines than hardwood trees, but there's enough for me to have the experience of seeing a hillside turn gold or red. Now with these developments trying to incorporate some colors as well, there's that trade off. A clear cut of evergreens becomes a stand of new homes with its streets lined with maples, sweet gums and cherry. One thing for another.

Of course, with the rains, all the lovely shades of fall will wash away and we'll have our dull grey and dark greens for the next few months. And then, magic! Sometime in March, pale faery green will lighten the hills and the cold wind will become kite season and Spring. I planted some bulbs last night in containers for our front porch. I'll need to mulch the tops of the pots; I'm afraid that it might be too cold overwinter outside for them but I'm going to give it a go. We should have some crocuses, daffodils, grape hyacinths and anemones, pushing out green spears followed by pinks and purples and yellows.

That's when Spring becomes my favorite season.