When I was a kid in Toronto, my upper floor bedroom window overlooked our backyard. When it was fall, the leaves fell off the maple tree. That started in mid-October. Later, in December, when it snowed, the branches of the lilacs, hedges and the maple were trimmed in white. It was beautiful . . . from the window! The ground was a blanket of white. By Christmas, it looked just like a Courier and Ives greeting card.
Of course, in order to go outside, we had to bundle up and there would be a muffler (or scarf) tied across your nose and mouth, because it was COLD outside!
Come Easter, it was still not too green but when May came, the lilacs were blooming and we would cut those and bring a bouquet inside for my birthday.
Our roses in Ontario started blooming late June and that last rose of summer was in September.
By late May and early June, there were colorful flowers (annuals and perennials) in our rock gardens and some bushes were in bloom. Summer was colorful and then, of course, autumn rolled around again.
So, by looking out the window, you knew pretty much what time of year it was.
In Texas, even after almost twelve years, I still find myself looking at the calendar to see just what season we are in.
So, when we have a Fall Festival, that tells you it is autumn on the calendar. People – like me - from other areas are reminded of their Oktoberfest, their hayrides, bazaars and so we organize them here.
A really big difference is Thanksgiving! In Canada, it is the second Monday in October and here in United States, it is the last Thursday in November. People often ask why this is and the answer has to do with when the harvest is. The Canadian crops are all in long before here in the South. Of course, Thanksgiving is when we give thanks for the fine crops we have harvesting.
I think that most people appreciate what they remember from their childhood and so, even in Texas, we have many people from many areas, all honoring their roots.
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