The Beauty that is Oak Park in Autumn

Oak Park, IL....one of the most beautiful places in the Midwest to witness "the changing of the colors".

As a child I never marveled at the beauty of the leaves changing colors in my home town. Sure, you had to bring in some samples to class so you could paste (does paste even exist anymore?) them to colored construction paper for an art project, but that was just school stuff. At that age, I was more excited about diving into the leaf piles that your father or neighbor raked up in the front and/or back yard. What a rush! There was also the element of danger when you were jumping into the piles already placed in the street along the curb. The stories of children being hit by unsuspecting drivers who would run over the piles. It was completely forbidden! Note: I never actually knew a child that had this happen.

In my teenage years, it was all about lighting the dry leaves in the street on fire and waiting for someone to notice and put them out. Note: I never started a leaf fire, only witnessed them. Again, not really noticing the beauty that surrounded me.

It was only after becoming an adult that I began to appreciate the wonderful shades and colors of the leaves as you moved into Fall in the village. Reds. Oranges. Yellows. And even Browns. Spectacular in sight, awe inspiring as the cool days rolled in and the long, hot summer days/nights were a thing of the past.

I had the good fortune of buying a home next to a neighbor who has a Ginko tree in his front yard. Every year, like clockwork, all the leaves seem to turn a bright shade of yellow all at once. Then, without warning, they all fall off the branches in a twenty four hour period. Amazing. I have to admit I'm a little jealous because he only spends a single hour a year raking his leaves, whereas I have to perform multiple sessions over the course of a month to keep my lawn respectable.

I would encourage anyone to spend a day walking the streets of Oak Park while the trees are changing. Especially the streets that have been left unaffected by Ash-bore beetles or Dutch Elm disease over the last decade or so. Some streets still have the majority of their 100+ year old majestic Oaks and Elms that connect high above to create a catherdral like presence.

Take in the Frank Lloyd Wright tour or stop by the Farmer's Market (Sat. 10/30 is the last one of the year) as you make your way around town. There are plenty of places to pick up a warming cup of joe or hot chocolate to enhance the experience. I guarantee you, you will be amazed.

And a little FYI...Oak Park was recently voted one of the Top 10 neighborhoods in the U.S. by the Huffington Post. If I had skills, I'd attach the link, but go to www.huffingtonpost.com and check it out. Congratulation Oak Park!

Vic Vanek