Finding Fall in Southern Italy

I grew up in the mountains of Pennsylvania, so finding fall was as easy as walking out the front door anytime after late September (and sometimes even before). From the unmistakable chill in the air to the red, orange, yellow, and brown leaves hanging onto the trees for as long as they could keep their grip, fall always found me.

Here in southern Italy, it’s not so easy. Yes, our temps get cooler and some trees even manage to lose their leaves, but you have to pay attention. You have to really look; blink and you’ll miss it. Fall can easily pass you by–and that would be tragic for me as it’s my favorite season.

Fall here, though, isn’t all about things dying as there’s a lot of new growth too. I mentioned the citrus fruits the other day, but there are also some flowers who are just making their appearance as well.

So while I miss fall from back home, I have an all new fall to appreciate here. I found her yesterday.

And she sure is pretty.

fall in southern italy
fall in southern italy
fall in southern italy
fall in southern italy
fall in southern italy
fall in southern italy
fall in southern italy
fall in southern italy

30 days of thanks
Today I’m thankful for: Please see above photos.

38 Beans of Wisdom to “Finding Fall in Southern Italy”
  1. Jeni
    11.27.2007

    Girl, you sure are right about the difference between fall in Pennsylvania and Italy and you sure did find some really pretty things growing in your neck of the woods. It was a cold, gloomy, very wet day here today -not the kind of weather the deer hunters love and cherish for the first day of Buck Season – that good old sacred day in the minds of the majority of hunters in the state!

  2. Something...
    11.27.2007

    Lovely photos! Just look at those pretty oranges. In Positano, we have to cover them with heavy nets to protect them from the ‘Tramontana’ winds in winter. They look very tempting. What kind of a lemon is that?

    Rosa.

  3. sognatrice
    11.27.2007

    *Hi Jeni! You know missing fall at home is made easier knowing that others are appreciating it for me.

    And your comment about deer hunting made me laugh–my mom called me yesterday and put my niece on the phone. I said, “Why isn’t she in school?” First day of buck! As if I could forget πŸ˜‰

    *Rosa, sorry, I don’t know what kind of lemon it is. I don’t know much about it anyway, but it’s also not our tree. I haven’t taken any photos of ours yet this year….

    I don’t see anyone putting anything over the trees around here even though we get some pretty nasty winds too; I think they’ve basically planted accordingly over the years to minimize the effect. Of course on a balcony, you don’t have a choice–and I think that’s why P’s parents put up a little protector on the side of theirs (two big lemon trees are up there) πŸ˜‰

  4. Snarkattack
    11.27.2007

    you have been tagged nablopomo by http://www.snarkattack.info/gracenotes

    Rules:

    1- Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

    2- Share 7 random and or weird things about yourself.

    3- Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

    4- Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

  5. My Melange
    11.27.2007

    Nice Italian Fall!!! Love those clementines and that lemon the size of a safotball!!!!

  6. qualcosa di bello
    11.27.2007

    you sure did find fall…a very beautiful fall!!! there is something about the slant of light that i can see in your photos that remind me of fall here.

    now i have this sudden urge to go zest something for my dessert!

  7. Stefanie
    11.27.2007

    Oh, I miss the pretty leaves already, and they have only been gone here for a couple of weeks.

    Also, I am confused about the oranges in winter thing, but maybe I just don’t know much about citrus growing. (I definitely don’t know much about citrus growing.)

  8. Ninotchka
    11.27.2007

    Looks like a pretty gorgeous fall to me!

  9. janeywan
    11.27.2007

    I grew up in snyder county Pa., Middleburg to be exact, curious to know where you grew up.

  10. nyc/caribbean ragazza
    11.27.2007

    In Southern California I don’t really notice fall at all. Looking forward to enjoying the seasons again.

  11. bella
    11.27.2007

    Just beautiful!

  12. erin
    11.27.2007

    beautiful photos – We were just admiring the fall colors outside Florence this weekend – absolutely gorgeous

  13. jennifer
    11.27.2007

    I love reading your writing about Italy. It reminds me of all of the best things there.

  14. Barbara
    11.27.2007

    I too miss the changing of the colors I was used to in Kentucky, and it’s turned into an annual post on my blog. This year I’m a little more accepting of the differences, having decided that the beautiful reds and golds of the grapevines substtute quite nicely for the sugar maples.

  15. Karina
    11.27.2007

    Beautiful photos. Fall is almost gone here…the trees have changed from the glorious reds, oranges and yellows to…well…to nothing. I’ll miss the Autumn leaves.

  16. cheeky
    11.27.2007

    My favorite photo is the first one. it looks like you could jump in and land on a bed of cushiony orangeness, red and yellow heaven. I’m guessing that wouldn’t be the case – ouch!
    My favorite time of year also.
    xo

  17. Jen of A2eatwrite
    11.27.2007

    Beautiful pictures. I’d love to see a fall like that!

  18. Taffiny
    11.27.2007

    I am glad you found her. (she sure is pretty)

  19. witnessing am i
    11.27.2007

    It is not fair that you get fall too, that you get to see the fall colors in Italy. You have everything already — can’t you leave something to the rest of the world? Some bit of beauty to call our own?

    The shots are lovely. For some reason, I just love the fourth shot. Not the most obvious choice but it seems very common, yet lovely.

    Happy Fall, Signora Sognatrice.

  20. sognatrice
    11.27.2007

    *Oh Snarkattack, I’ll do my best–I do have some questions people have asked still floating around.

    *Robin, actually that’s nothing compared to some of the lemons around here. A bag of lemons can be seriously heavy!

    *Qualcosa, if I’m not mistaken, our weather actually is similar b/c of our geographic positioning, so it wouldn’t surprise me that you recognize our light πŸ˜‰

    *Stefanie, yes citrus fruit also grows in winter–same in Florida πŸ™‚

    *Nino, I can honestly say this is the first fall I’ve even noticed around here…I’m sure I have the blog and my camera to thank for it!

    *Janeywan, I’m from Northumberland County, not far from the Susquehanna River πŸ™‚

    *NYC, you’re going to love it!

    *Bella, thanks πŸ™‚

    *Erin, I’m sure you have even more brilliant colors there πŸ™‚

    *Jennifer, so happy to be of service! It definitely helps those of us still here to look for the beauty as well πŸ˜‰

    *Barbara, it does take some getting used to, doesn’t it? I’m so happy that I’m finally appreciating the fall here after years of just yearning for my old autumns πŸ˜‰

    *Karina, yes, “after fall” isn’t so nice…until the snow starts coating everything πŸ™‚

    *Cheeky, hah! I agree with you that it does look cushy. It’s funny because that’s really the only pocket on that whole mountain that is changing colors, so it makes it extra-comfy looking πŸ˜‰

    *Jen, come on over!

    *Taffiny, me too πŸ™‚

    *David, that’s my favorite shot as well! I took it quite by accident, just panning around with the camera and snapping, but when I saw it on the viewfinder, I just loved it.

    That’s a streetlight in the background if you can’t tell. At first I thought, aw, that’s too bad that I can’t get this shot without the streetlight, but now I rather like it. It’s man mixed with nature, and yet it’s such an old-fashioned streetlight–progress, sort of…what does all that say together? Hmm….

  21. The Passionate Palate
    11.27.2007

    Great photos! I just said to my husband this morning, “isn’t it great how citrus fruits come into season just when we need the Vitamin C the most?”, as I was eating a mandarin from our tree!

  22. Miss Mrs...a blog of everyday delights
    11.27.2007

    BEAUTIFUL! I’m coming to visit you! πŸ™‚ (I wish)

  23. Wanderlust Scarlett
    11.27.2007

    SIGH….

    I am on my way over. That’s too good to pass by!

    AH! If only!
    Thanks for sharing, they are lovely photos, I quite enjoyed them.
    Thanks for brightening my day!

    Scarlett & Viaggiatore

  24. Maryann
    11.28.2007

    The change of color on your trees are so pretty. I wouldn’t have thought you could find that there. I’m in NY and always have the change of season, but I never take it for granted πŸ™‚

  25. Dave
    11.28.2007

    Great pictures; but, four out of seven look like spring or summer, which I guess is your point.

  26. heartinsanfrancisco
    11.28.2007

    Gorgeous pictures!

    I also miss Fall in all its glory, my favorite season in the Northeast, where I grew up.

    In Northern California, there are scattered Maple trees that turn red, gold and purple, but you have to know where they are.

    It’s always surprising that some things are just blooming at a time when my history has shown me that everything dies back for another year.

    Every place has its wonders if we look for them.

  27. Maddy
    11.28.2007

    Looks great from both perspectives.
    BEst wishes

  28. Karen Cole
    11.28.2007

    The world sure is a beautiful place, isn’t it?

    Where in Pa.???

  29. sognatrice
    11.28.2007

    *Jeni, great minds πŸ™‚ Enjoy those mandarins!

    *Miss Mrs, the more the merrier πŸ™‚

    *Scarlett, always a pleasure to see you here!

    *Maryann, believe me, I’m surprised myself! Glad you appreciate your gorgeous fall πŸ™‚

    *Dave, crazy isn’t it? We can have all seasons nearly at once πŸ™‚

    *Heart, we were spoiled in the Northeast, weren’t we? I’ll always miss it, but like you said, if you know where to look, you can still find some lovely sights πŸ™‚

    *Maddy, thanks!

    *Karen, it most definitely is πŸ™‚ I’m from the middle of nowhere, along the Susquehanna River in Northumberland County–about 50 minutes north of Harrisburg.

  30. Anonymous
    11.28.2007

    I’m a bit late to comment on this, but I wanted to say you’ve got some beautiful photos. Autumn has some of the best colours of the year (of which you gave excellent examples). I’m glad to hear you did find a pleasant, albeit different, autumn here.

    Luigi

  31. sognatrice
    11.28.2007

    *Luigi, not late at all! It’s hard to keep up when I’m obligated to post every day πŸ˜‰

    And yes, I have definitely found a lovely autumn here, thanks πŸ™‚

  32. Stelle in Italia
    11.29.2007

    ahh! beautiful fall photos! i’m so glad you’ve found fall–it took me the longest time to find her here in le marche, but turns out she was just around the corner :). i love fall too–it’s different here in italy, not better or worse, just different.

  33. elena jane
    11.30.2007

    pretty photos!!
    and i think the fall in PA is different even within the state(i’m in PA btw).
    but it’s good to see some fall colours when you’re away from “home”. the roses and fruit are lovely πŸ™‚

  34. sognatrice
    12.03.2007

    *Stelle, I think it’s important that we just pay attention; like you said, she’s here, we just have to look πŸ™‚

    *Elena Jane, absolutely! I grew up in central PA and also lived in Philly for 5 years–HUGE difference there (in just about every way come to think of it) πŸ˜‰

  35. Kerith Collins
    12.06.2007

    that is gorgeous…all we have is ice…and some yellow snow…man-o-man…i feel bad for neglecting my shewhoblogs buddies.

  36. sognatrice
    12.07.2007

    *Kerith, no guilt trips allowed here! Life gets in the way for all of us sometimes πŸ˜‰

  37. Laume
    12.08.2007

    I grew up in Minnesota and Wisconsin where seasons were clearly defined. When I moved to a Mediterranean climate (Sonoma County, California), it took me years to understand the subtle but beautiful green winters. Now I live in the mountains and I’m back to a more traditional seasonal display – autumn foliage, winter snow – and although I enjoy their beauty, I miss the rich wine harvest and dusty end-of-summer autumn scents and the lush, rainscented winters.

  38. sognatrice
    12.08.2007

    *Laume, I think the key is appreciating the seasons no matter where we are; looks like you’ve found a nice balance…missing is always a good sign, isn’t it?

Michelle KaminskyMichelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived. 

Calabria Guidebook

Calabria travel guide by Michelle Fabio

Recipes

 

Homemade apple butter
Green beans, potatoes, and pancetta
Glazed Apple Oatmeal Cinnamon Muffins
Pasta with snails alla calabrese
Onion, Oregano, and Thyme Focaccia
Oatmeal Banana Craisin Muffins
Prosciutto wrapped watermelon with bel paese cheese
Fried eggs with red onion and cheese
Calabrian sausage and fava beans
Ricotta Pound Cake