As summer slowly softens its grip, the world eases into the gentle embrace of autumn. The days are still warm, yet the air carries a hint of the coming chill, a whispering of the winter that looms on the horizon. In the Southern Hemisphere, September marks the start of spring, a time of rebirth and renewal. But in the North, it is autumn’s vivid hues that paint the landscape—a rich tapestry of colours that define the month. Fields of golden Yellow Ochre stretch out under the expanse of a Sapphire Blue sky, whilst the once-verdant leaves of deciduous trees transform into a cascade of Burnt Sienna, as they shed their summer attire in anticipation of winter’s approach.
September derives from the ancient Roman word ‘Septem’, meaning seven as in the old Roman Calendar, and it was traditionally the start of the farming year. Yellow Ochre represents the golden harvest as September was called “harvest month” in Charlemagne’s calendar. It is for this reason the full moon for the month is referred to as a Harvest Moon.
The jewel tones of Sapphire Blue are the next colour which represents September, in my opinion, for a number of reasons. From the ancient Greek ‘Sappheiros’ meaning ‘precious blue gem,’ the precious cool blue gemstone, taking millions of years to form and has been prized and mined since at least 800 BC. Traditionally symbolising sincerity, truth, and faithfulness, and has a long association with royalty.
In ancient Greece and Rome, Kings and Queens were convinced that blue Sapphires protected them from envy and harm, and in the Middle Ages, it was thought to be an antidote against poisons, and to possess a magical power to influence the spirits. Persians believed that blue Sapphires were chips from a huge pedestal that supported the Earth, the reflections of which coloured the sky. The sapphire blue hues can be used for the colour of all three of the birth flowers for September, the tiny and delicate Forget Me Not, Morning Glory and the Aster.
Forget Me Nots in Watercolour – Anita Pounder
The tiny blue flower the Forget me Not flower is a delicate cool blue colour and gets its name from its petal shape. The name botanical name ‘Myosotis’ derives from the Ancient Greek ”mouse’s ear”, which the foliage is thought to resemble . The common name Forget me Not originates from the German “vergissmeinnicht,” meaning “forget-me-not.” It has numerous myths and legends surrounding the origin of its name. In Greek mythology, it is said that a nymph who drowned whilst trying to help her lover, called out to him to not forget her. Similarly, in a myth from the middle ages, a knight falls into the water and is unable to get out, and as he grasps the blue flower exclaims “do not forget me”.
Morning glory flowers grow on vines, with deep spiritual meaning across diverse cultures and beliefs. It symbolises spiritual awakening, enlightenment, and rebirth as the flowers unfurl into full bloom in the early morning.
The delicate daisy like aster flower comes from the Greek word ‘aster’, meaning star. The myth behind these beautiful little flowers, is that the Goddess Astraea was so sad that the earth had so few stars in the sky that she cried, and her tears fell to the ground and asters appeared.
Another of my colours for September, was one of the first pigments used in human history; Burnt Sienna. As a pigment it takes its name from Siena, where the pigment was produced during the Renaissance period. In its raw state the colour is a yellow brown shade, but after heat is added it turns to a beautiful reddish brown which perfectly represents the changes in the vegetation during this month. Shiny brown seeds like Conkers, beech, and acorns being to ripen and fall to the ground into carpets of fallen leaves or a crisp, coppery-bronze beech hedge lines the autumn lanes.
Hay Bales in Acrylic – Anita Pounder
The end of summer means that migratory birds begin to fly south to warmer climates over many 1000s of miles away. Birds which arrive for the winter will be Redwings, fieldfares, waxwings and some types of duck and geese who head to the UK from colder countries like Iceland and Scandinavia.
All of these wonderful changes really encapsulate the beginning of autumn f0r me, and my colours of September were chosen to evoke memories of these events.