Autumn Leaves
Posted at 9:31 am November 28, 2005 by Gary Voyles
Being a VAO (Visitor Assistance Officer) allows me to move about the San Diego Zoo. And being out and about this time of year I see some of the most beautiful sights imaginable.
A beautiful path is the arbor walk up to the Hunte Amphitheater. There is a fruitless mulberry tree there with leaves so yellow I can almost taste the color. Standing there in the fallen leaves looking into that tree gives me goosebumps. The light from the sun is low and comes across the top of that tree. The light is brilliant and makes the whole tree glow yellow.
Fall is such a wonderful time of year. But in this place and under this tree it becomes an altered state of consciousness. It just does not get better than this.
Gary Voyles is a visitor assistance officer at the San Diego Zoo.
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November 28th, 2005 at 12:10 pm
Gary, I know the exact color you’re talking about. We have a wild mulberry tree growing along our back pasture. An artist friend visited us one fall, saw the tree, and pronounced the color to be ” a clear, singing yellow.”
Once in a while each of us has a ” moment” when we realize ” I will always remember this instant, this place – the sights, sounds, and smells.” All too often lately, these moments recall catastrophe. Thank you for reminding us that some of the most powerful moments are not world events but are, instead, crafted simply and quietly by someone who sees and appreciates something beautiful that has been there all along. And thank you for sharing your moment under a tree of clear, singing yellow.