Tree Street

As we walk along, the leaves falling from the canopy take me back to life in Grand Falls-Windsor. This time of year I enjoyed driving along Memorial Avenue on the way to and from school on Greenwood. 

Memorial Avenue was the 'tree street.' It was never busy so I drove very slowly as the leaves fell, some landing on the car. The colours of the trees and on the leaves piled on the street were just as captivating as the falling action itself, with leaves along the curb, over lawns, driveways and trampled into the asphalt. On windy days the leaves often took flight again as the number falling off the trees increased. 

Sometimes I walked the street before I headed home after school. The sound of the leaves under foot added to the atmosphere, as did the smell of the rotting leaves, that autumn smell you recognize if you grew up around deciduous trees. A drive or walk along this street was a celebration of autumn every year. 

Today in Summerside, the leaves are piled high in the yards along Maplewood, certainly an appropriate name for the street. 

While we walk, the leaves drop around us, unprompted by wind on this still day. Some people have done the first raking of the millions of leaves while others wait for the completion of the falling process. 

The leaves are dry and crunchy today, making noisy footfalls.

The park on this street, one of the many beautiful parks in Summerside and throughout Canada this time of year, is carpeted with maple leaves. 

It is a great place for children at any time, but especially now. The next time the girls visit...