The Last Spring

I’ve discovered an interesting thing about autumn here in Ankara. In Turkish, the spring season is called Ilkbahar and autumn is called Sonbahar. Sonbahar literally translates to "last spring" as “son” means “last” and “bahar” itself means “spring” giving them the two seasons: first spring and last spring.




We arrived in Ankara at the end of summer; it was very hot and dry not unlike Atlanta in the drought. Rather than turning browner and drier as I’m accustomed to in the South, Ankara turned green as sonbahar brought some rain and cooler days as well as cooler nights. Suddenly, everything started growing and blooming for a last hurrah before winter. The grass turned green again. Droopy flowers perked up. The rose bushes produce more, not less. It's quite a lovely time and I begin to understand those who consider autumn their favorite season.


The leaves are turning colors and it's definitely getting colder, but somehow it doesn't seem quite as much of an ending as it seems at home. Of course, I don't know yet what we're in for with an Ankara winter. The leaves are falling. There are lots of Sycamores, Chestnuts, and trees I don’t recognize. Yellows and oranges are the predominant colors. Virginia creepers are common and wonderfully red. Perhaps I’ll be more tolerant of that vine/weed when I return.


I’ve even found honeysuckle which doesn’t run amok in the high desert climate. I do miss the best of the southern smells: magnolia, honeysuckle, gardenias, and even the pines. Getting to know the seasons and plants is one my delights in living for an extended period in another country.

Written in sonbahar, posted in kış, awaiting ilkbahar.
All in all, the seasons change in their own ways; we just have to enjoy.