Ardain Isma
CSMS Magazine
Autumn is at our doorstep, believe it or not. I got my first hint this morning during a jog along the trail near my home. At last, the summer heat is fading. The transition from midsummer heat to early autumn is a subtle yet enchanting shift in both look and feel. The intense, golden glare of summer softens as the sun hangs lower in the sky, casting longer, gentler shadows. The air, once heavy and humid, starts to feel crisper, carrying the faintest chill in the morning and evening. The deep greens of summer begin to fade into warmer tones—burnt oranges, russet reds, and golden yellows—hinting at the coming transformation of the landscape. Un goût de joie de vivre!
Speaking of transforming the landscape, I need to head to Home Depot to buy a new hedge trimmer for the podocarpuses in my backyard. Looks like a busy weekend awaits me.
My trees, though still mostly green, begin to show the first hints of change as scattered leaves turn prematurely. The grass remains lush but dew-laden, reflecting the cooler nights. As the days will shorten, soon there’ll be a sense of calm, a gradual slowing of time as nature prepares to wind down. The scent in the air is different, too—less floral and more earthy, with a slight smokiness from distant bonfires or drying leaves.
There’s a comforting embrace in this change, a quietness that replaces the bustling energy of midsummer. It feels like the world is exhaling, moving gently towards a time of reflection and rest.
Note: Ardain Isma is the Chief-Editor of CSMS Magazine. He is the author of several books, including Midnight at Noon, Bittersweet Memories of Last Spring, and Last Spring was Bittersweet. You can order these books by clicking on the links above.
