Late summer has arrived, and I’m tempted to say it happened suddenly. One day, the meadow flowers from the previous week had withered, the red hues of fireweed along the roadside had turned into floating tufts, and the forest was full of mushrooms and berries. Here and there, the hardiest summer flowers continue to bloom, stubbornly defying the arrival of autumn despite the cooling air. The birch branches are slowly trading their green for yellow, one leaf at a time.

The blueberries are finally fully ripe, and I’ve been gathering bucketfuls from the nearby forest whenever I can, filling up my freezer, which is now more full than empty. I eat berries every day, year-round, so they never go to waste. I have a feeling that this year, I might manage to stock my freezer with enough berries and other forest goodies to last until next year. There’s so much joy in the simple act of opening a freezer almost full of berries and adding a few more bags of freshly picked ones from my backyard!

Autumn and the peak of fall colors are just around the corner. The changes in nature happen gradually and subtly, so it’s easy to get used to them without noticing. Not long ago, the surroundings were a rich green, but now the landscape is turning yellow, providing a painting-like setting for swans preparing to head south.

I’m still gathering the last of the summer flowers every few days—wildflowers are one of my favorite things in the world—from the roadsides and meadows along the river to bring inside. Now, their vibrant colors are competing with the first bold birch branches taking on their autumn hues, standing out against the still mostly green forest.

After the slow passage of summer, the late summer days are now flying by. The daylight is fading noticeably faster, and night is quietly taking big chunks from both evening and morning. Although there’s still some catching up to do before darkness overtakes the light, it’s happening slowly but surely. I was surprised to hear on the radio that the northern lights season begins at the end of August—wasn’t it just the end of the midnight sun?

Time doesn’t feel long when there’s so much to marvel at—the changing landscape, the birds preparing to fly south, the fading colors along the river, and the gathering of the forest’s bounty.

Wishing everyone a wonderful start to autumn! 🤗

♥: Sanna