“Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.” (-William Cullen Bryant)

Yesterday, I was in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Thanks to Jeanette Sclar, flickr’s famous “Mistress of Longears,” who suggested some area attractions to me, I learned about a wonderful opportunity for communing with Nature, when I was able to discover University of Michigan’s Nichols Arboretum.

While it was a chilly afternoon, the sun was shining, and the trees were gilded, dazzling jewels.

The leaves are turning to brilliant colors and the meandering path down to the Huron River is a peaceful, beautiful walk.

I was fortunate to be able to explore on a weekday afternoon, and other than a few fellow Nature lovers and joggers, I was pretty much alone save for two hawks in the tree canopy above.

(Incidentally, I am aware that one photo here is in here twice—blogger was NOT cooperating tonight—I tried uploading 5 times and for some reason it loaded everything backwards and this photo was in here twice each time! Who knows! I finally gave up!)

After my visit, I went off to my event at the University of Michigan and felt a wonderful serenity before I had to be “on” for the evening.

Today, it was back to O’Hare again, and then on to St Louis, Missouri. I do enjoy getting to explore my surroundings wherever I head. Thanks, Jeanette, for such a perfect suggestion!

“Summer makes me drowsy. Autumn makes me sing…” (-Dorothy Parker)