The Teachings of Place and Climate

Manzanita on the Sandberg Loop Trail, northwestern L.A. County (David Lockeretz)

Fall here in Southern California often brings hot winds and soaring temperatures. And these bring fires. In the land of what must seem like eternal summer to some, summer holds fast to its last days as if to rage against the dying of the light.

In another life, another world, fall was about a touch of coolness in the air, blustery winds and a mix of warm days and early frosts. Fall sneaks in before the Equinox in Nova Scotia. The tips of leaves begin turning color in August and the air is sometimes just a little nippy before Labor Day. Fall on that tiny peninsula is a brilliant precursor to winter’s eagerness to coat all in white and bring on nature’s dark night.

Both environments have taught me much. As I’ve embodied this environment, as it has come into my soul over the last 16 years, I’ve learned about persistence and how important it is to make the most of the time you have. And in Nova Scotia I learned to embrace the inevitable. I’ve learned to sense the subtle signs of change, to enjoy the journey and to let go into those dark nights with the eagerness of winter, knowing that spring is on the other side.