Little Letter ~ Nature Finds in Autumn

from Ella to Jack

Dear Jack,

Something is happening to the trees.
Their leaves look like flames—red, orange, yellow.
It’s like they got bored of green and wanted to show off!

Mama told me something funny.
She said the colours were always there,
but the green was just bossy and covered them up.
Now the green is leaving,
and the other colours finally get their turn.
I think that’s fair.

I’ve been trying to catch a leaf while it’s falling.
It’s harder than it looks.
They twirl and spin away at the last second.
But I caught one!
I put it in a book to keep it flat.
Later I might put it in my treasure box—
I’m saving autumn things now.

Also: spiders.
They’re everywhere.
Mama says they’re looking for love
and a warm place for the winter.
That’s sweet, but I really hope they don’t pick my bedroom.

This morning the grass was sparkly.
Mama said it’s called dew,
but I think it looks like the garden had a sleepover
and got glitter all over it.

Do your trees change colour too?

Write back soon,

Ella

P.S. If a spider does move in, I’m calling her Pumpkin.

Dear Ella,

Yes! Our trees are changing too.
But not all at once.
It’s like they’re taking turns.
One is red, one is orange, and the others are still thinking about it.

There’s a path behind our house that smells like wet wood and old apples.
It’s the kind of smell that sticks to your jumper.
I like it.

I found a mushroom the size of a cookie.
It was white with brown spots and looked like it belonged in a fairy tale.
Dad says I can’t touch it—some mushrooms are tricky—
but I still said hi.

This morning, the grass had tiny drops all over it.
And spiderwebs between the bushes.
They looked like silver ropes, like someone decorated the whole garden.
Maybe the spiders in your yard had a party and invited mine.

I’m making a treasure box too.
So far I’ve got one twisty leaf,
a rock shaped like a jellybean,
and a weird seed pod I think might be a hat for a mouse.

I tried to catch a leaf too.
I missed.
But maybe tomorrow.

Write back soon,

Jack

P.S. If a mushroom moves in, I’m calling it Sir Button.