It was Saturday, October 11th, 2025, the Saturday of Canadian Thanksgiving. We had two couples visiting us who hoped to experience the peak of the maple forest colour cavalcade. You know, the time of year when the maple leaves turn a variety of hues from yellow to brilliant red before falling off the parent tree and allowing it to rest and sustain itself over the winter.
We’d had our traditional turkey dinner on Friday night, instead of Sunday, this year, to ensure as many family members as possible could come to join the celebration. We all felt the need for a bit of a walk to work off some of the calories. There is no better place to do that in our local community than the Haliburton Sculpture Forest. If you have never been there, you should add it to your bucket list. As you stroll, walk, run, snowshoe or cross country ski (depending upon time of year) around the trails, you encounter sculptures—some fanciful, some practical and some inspiring or thought-provoking.
On this autumn day, the peak of the colour had already passed. Mother Nature is unpredictable and likes to keep us guessing
about when the peak of the colour season will arrive. The trees had been stressed this year due to summer drought, and many had lost their leaves early, without the usual spectacular colour change. There had been exceptions for trees near one of the many waterways in the Haliburton Highlands. But today the colours were more russet and sepia: the usual colours that come after the peak.
After walking most of the trail, it was time for a bit of a rest, and we went inside the Atmo-Sphere sculpture, a rounded stone structure, ideal for meditation and quiet reflection, or just a quiet rest before tackling the remainder of the trail. I love how the stone walls encircle you as you sit on the bench, looking out at the tops of the trees and sky.
I have been inside this structure many times, but on this day I was struck by the doorway. I noted how the imperfect, bent arch mirrors the shadow of a bent human form and beckons one back out into the forest of gold and russet leaves. Just gazing at the image slows the rhythm of my heart.
I love the sounds of autumn with the rustling of leaves as you walk along the forested paths. I’ve inserted a short video below that illustrates those sounds.
There are many more sculptures in this unique blend of man-made art and nature. Come and experience it one day!
