Jeepney Press November-December 2022 / Mae Grace

by Mae Grace AMAZINGgrace!

Autumn is Abundance and Coming to Fullness

Autumn. The season of abundance, fruitfulness, and plenty. It is the season of harvests and over-brimmed baskets of fruits and pumpkins ripened to golden perfection. It is the time for budding and flowering even after summer is over, adding to the bees’ already overflowing honey cells. Autumn also means ‘thanksgiving’ when trees are ablaze with all the fiery colors of the sun.

My family has been blessed with a few autumn traditions that keep us looking forward to its coming year after year after year. First in line would be the harvesting of the mandarin orange tree that our Ojiichan had planted years ago and that delights us always with fruits brimming from all its branches. Then it’s time for us to prune the tree after harvest and prepare it to take a little rest during the winter.

Autumn won’t be complete if we do not go “momijigari” or take a trip somewhere to appreciate the art of color watching, to places where autumn foliage could be gazed at and admired. One need not go out of Tokyo to do this. There are gems scattered all over the big capital of Japan, little pockets of gardens dedicated to preserving trees that many generations can enjoy and wonder at when autumn comes and visit. These photos were taken at Yonogayato Park located in Kokubunji City. Formerly owned by the founder of Mitsubishi Company until it was obtained by the Tokyo government, it has been turned into an oasis for the public to enjoy. Another must visit garden is the Jindai Botanical Park in Chofu City, a mere half-hour train ride away from the heart of Tokyo. If we consider how old these trees are, they were not planted only yesterday. They were fruits of a generation who loved autumn and had the vision to share the blazing beauty of autumn to the future generations. Autumn is fullness of life!

Mae Grace

Jeepney Press