In central and northern European culture, autumn is harvest time and, therefore, a time of gladness and thanksgiving. It is also a time of melancholia brought about by the end of summer and the imminent arrival of dark and cold winter days.

It is the season during which nature starts to prepare itself for the cold season. Deciduous trees shed their leaves, some animals prepare to hibernate, many invertebrates die leaving behind eggs, larvae or pupae that will spring to life when the days start to warm up.

In the Mediterranean region, on the other hand, autumn is a time of rebirth. Summer heat and lack of water force most of nature to shut down. Most vegetation dries up and plants survive either as seed or as underground bulbs, corms and tubers. Most perennial species stop growing while some trees such as the carob even lose some of their leaves in periods of extreme drought to minimise water loss. This is all reversed with the first autumn rains. As soon as seeds absorb enough water, the countryside comes back to life.

The first to appear are the leaves of plants which have food stored beneath the surface in bulbs, tubers and corms. Some of these plants flower within days to attract bees before other plants start to flower. Within days seeds start to germinate and push their leaves out of the softened soil to expose them to the autumn light and absorb life-giving energy so essential for photosynthesis.

Cooler weather and water also act as a signal for many animal species to become active again. First among these is the painted frog which survives the drought by aestivating in dried mud. Many species of moth complete their metamorphosis and emerge from their pupae.

Autumn also sees the arrival of many species of birds such as the robin, white wagtail and black redstart which fly south to escape the deadly cold to spend the winter in the mild Mediterranean.

For generations of Maltese the perception of autumn was influenced by a foreign culture which is still dominant in many areas thanks to the ubiquitous foreign media.

It is time that we look at the seasons in our country as they really are. This will help us to form a unique identity that reflects our environment.

portelli.paul@gmail.com