Autumn, not Fall (editing)

Autumn is my favorite time of year, because that's what season we are in now, and the earth here is vibrating with colors and fragrances. Since I live on an island, in the Pacific, close to the equator, the seasons are different here. This time of year the land comes alive with beautiful blooming plants and trees.1

Where I grew up, in Washington State, Autumn, aka "Fall" was when all the leaves turned color and fell...making for raking big piles, and smoldering bonfires.2

Here, in Hawai'i, this is one of our harvest seasons, and planting seasons. We are lucky enough to grow year round.
This is perfect weather where I live, to grow zucchini, lettuce, tomatoes...and of course, papayas and bananas.3

This is also the season when a lot of "Christmas" flowers bloom. The night blooming cactus are just starting to flower, and their fragrance is like sweet confection.
Poinsettia grow wild on the hillsides and are giant bushes, covered in large vibrant red flowers. The tourists stop and take pictures because it is so beautiful. Nothing like the small potted ones in the stores.
The coffee trees are bearing fruit or "cherry" right now, and they are also a subject for many pictures. They bloom for one or two days, as do many things here, so you have to be quick to catch them. When coffee blooms, the trees look like they are covered in popcorn strands. Tiny white flowers line each branch.
The blossoms quickly turn to beans, or coffee cherry...they are green at first and slowly ripen to a dark blood red. The coffee here on our island, is all picked by hand.4

"Snowbirds" as we call our friends from the north, return to stay for the Winter. We spend many late evenings catching up on the summer months. Thanksgiving day we all get together and "talk story" and eat. 5

Light evening rains, keep the air clean, and the land watered. Warm trade winds blow softly through the trees. 6

So, although the leaves don't fall here, autumn in Hawai'i is my favorite time of year.