The first day of Autumn is for me what opening day of baseball season is for others. But that’s because I’m a New England girl, and I expect the leaves to be changing colors, the days to be in the 6o’s and the nights to have that special chill down to the 40’s. I can walk in the woods and not get sweaty; I can sit next to a fire pit wearing a fleece or flannel. Hell, I can wear flannel All. Day. Long. Every. Single. Day.
But I’m in Los Angeles. Where it was 101 degrees last week. And this week isn’t much better. I sought out the cold and the leaves online. I had two choices: head east up the mountains for a higher elevation, or head west to the ocean and hope for some sea breeze.
Usually this time of year, a roadtrip to either of these locations is hindered by the usual occurrence of these places being on fire. Luckily (for everyone), this year neither direction was aflame.
However, oddly, instead of the higher elevations being cooler, they were almost just as hot, as if just closer to the sun. So, as we were already an hour into the afternoon, I quickly made a plan to head west to commune with nature and stop at what is now my favorite winery: Old Creek Ranch.
Old Creek closed at 5pm, so we needed a short hike. For me, today was more about being in nature than walking in it. But a good walk is always healthy for both body and soul.
We had two choices for 2 mile walks: Arroyo Verde and the Ventura Botanical Gardens. Neither would provide any fall foliage, but it would be treading on soil instead of pavement. Arroyo Verde was a mountain hike, and I worried it may be too far from the ocean for the breeze—like the Forrestal Preserve was earlier this summer. The Botanical Gardens was actually in Ventura, an oceanside town and seemed a safer bet for cool breezes.
We quickly packed up and away we went, fleeing the heat and hoping for Autumn. Tucker kept his nose in the air, trying to catch the scent of it.
But I’m in Los Angeles. Where it was 101 degrees last week. And this week isn’t much better. I sought out the cold and the leaves online. I had two choices: head east up the mountains for a higher elevation, or head west to the ocean and hope for some sea breeze.
Usually this time of year, a roadtrip to either of these locations is hindered by the usual occurrence of these places being on fire. Luckily (for everyone), this year neither direction was aflame.
However, oddly, instead of the higher elevations being cooler, they were almost just as hot, as if just closer to the sun. So, as we were already an hour into the afternoon, I quickly made a plan to head west to commune with nature and stop at what is now my favorite winery: Old Creek Ranch.
Old Creek closed at 5pm, so we needed a short hike. For me, today was more about being in nature than walking in it. But a good walk is always healthy for both body and soul.
We had two choices for 2 mile walks: Arroyo Verde and the Ventura Botanical Gardens. Neither would provide any fall foliage, but it would be treading on soil instead of pavement. Arroyo Verde was a mountain hike, and I worried it may be too far from the ocean for the breeze—like the Forrestal Preserve was earlier this summer. The Botanical Gardens was actually in Ventura, an oceanside town and seemed a safer bet for cool breezes.
We quickly packed up and away we went, fleeing the heat and hoping for Autumn. Tucker kept his nose in the air, trying to catch the scent of it.
While the Botanical Gardens was certainly not the wilds, it was a representation of the wilds. From the beautiful trails, we could hear music filtering up from the town square where a concert was going on, and we could see the ocean and feel the breeze.
Nature’s art was interspersed with human’s art. Words placed on stones…
And structures that added even more beauty to what Nature had already made.
They even had a building supply store for birds so they could feel welcome to make their homes here.
It was a terraced trail with switchbacks, but one could choose a few shortcuts up some well-placed stairs.
We chose a different direction than straight up and ended up on a what seemed like it could have been a helipad (but was probably just a parking lot).
From here, we could see for miles south
And miles north
On our way back down, we stopped at a viewpoint and looked out over half the Gardens, the town, and the ocean.
It wasn’t a long walk, but it was what we needed to feel whole again. We carried on down the mountain, taking in the scents of the plants and flowers along the way (I’m still trying to figure out which plant smelled like warm breakfast with cinnamon and maple undertones).
Carrying those scents and sights with us, we drove away through the little oceanside town and out into the farmland to sit and enjoy the wine, the vibes, and the vines and do a little writing.
Carrying those scents and sights with us, we drove away through the little oceanside town and out into the farmland to sit and enjoy the wine, the vibes, and the vines and do a little writing.
Autumn is and always will be, for me, and I look forward to being somewhere soon that I can witness the leaves change in the Fall. But for now, this will certainly do. For Nature's Autumn Showcase of her art is not the same as her show in New England, but it is just as beautiful.
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