I always hate September. For one, it brings back unhappy memories of that dreadful post- Labor Day Wednesday morning when school started up again. Early September is like summer on life support: You cling to every last nice day, every last ray of sunshine, knowing that in a few weeks autumn will be here—officially.

Now, as we reach mid-September, the maples are starting to turn, the purple asters fill the turgid roadside soil, the nights (and days) are getting cooler, and fall is definitely in the air. So I try to console summer’s departure by remembering some of the better points about fall:

• Fresh apples
• Winter squash
• Colorful leaves and picture-taking opportunities
• Letchworth art show in October
• Halloween (for whatever that's worth)
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas season (although this started at Kohl's on Monday)

Of course, a month from now Buffalo could be under a foot of snow. Summer—even if this one was predominately crappy weather—is still my favorite season and is far too short. Perhaps the worst part of fall isn't at all summer's demise, but rather what follows: winter. Anyway, enjoy some photos from falls past:

(click for full-screen, and be sure to choose "show info" to read captions)