ACROSS AMERICA — In a surprise to almost no one, winter got little respect in Patch’s informal survey asking readers their favorite season and why.
The cold, snowy season’s defenders were passionate, though, with a Minnesota Patch reader telling us winter “needs a movement” to increase its popularity, and an Illinois Patch reader chiming in that winter is the time of year when “you don’t have to go outside if you don’t want to, don’t have to get dressed if you don’t want to, or don’t have to visit people if you don’t want to.”
Of 448 responses to our pulse survey, about 54 percent said fall is their favorite season, 23 percent favor spring and 20 percent best like summer. Those who prefer winter made up about 3 percent of respondents.
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Readers told us they like the cool, crisp air of autumn and the spectacular displays of red, orange and yellow fall foliage, as well as seasonal foods and treats such as apple cider, soups and stews, and everything pumpkin or pumpkin spice. Warm, fuzzy sweaters and other fall fashion got nods, too.
‘Fat Squirrel Season Is Super Fun’
“Autumn paints the world in hues of gold, orange and crimson. It’s a season of breathtaking beauty, where nature transforms into a masterpiece,” Illinois Patch reader Teri said in her homage to autumn. “Trees, once lush with green, shed their leaves creating a kaleidoscope of colors that dance in the sunlight.
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“Crisp, cool air fills the atmosphere, invigorating the senses. The smell of fallen leaves and burning wood fills the air, adding a cozy and comforting touch. As the days grow shorter, the sun casts long, golden shadows, creating a sense of warmth and tranquility. It’s a season of harvest, abundance, and the promise of renewal.”
New York Patch reader Susie likes fall for many of the same reasons. “The downside for the season is the darkness that comes early and daylight that comes later in the mornings,” Susie said.
“The colors are vibrant and beautiful, the nights are cool and crisp while the days are still warm, and it’s the best time to make soups and stews and bake without overheating your house,” said New Hampshire Patch reader Carla. “I feel so much comfort and happiness in the fall.”
“I love the transition from summer green to the colors of fall, and the way the Earth says, ‘Now it’s time to rest and recoup’ from summer’s activity and movement,” said Jennifer, who lives in New Mexico. “Warm drinks, fall foods, warm clothing and the change to gathering inside our cozy homes with family really speaks to me.”
“Apples. Apple cider, apple pie, apple dumplings, apple fritters, apple hard cider, apple crisp, apple cobbler,” said Massachusetts Patch reader Demitraw “Coulda just stopped at apples.”
“Cool, crisp, no- humidity days are finally here!” said New Jersey Patch reader Lisalu. “The deer come around in larger groups. Fat squirrel season is super fun to watch.”
Illinois Patch reader Dev also likes that cooler weather means “the bugs have gone back to hell, where they belong.”
‘Brown Leaves Crunch The Best’
New Jersey Patch reader Kimeee says she’s a “sweater-wearing person” and looks forward to the fashion choices that come with the season.
“Not to mention, you have Halloween,” Kimeee said. “There’s nothing that beats that season!”
“It’s spooky season,” said New Hampshire Patch reader Max.
New York Patch reader D. said fall brings cool, crisp relief after a hot, humid summer.
“Fall is nature at its best work with the flowers still in late bloom and trees changing color,” D. said. “I love walking and crunching the leaves as the colors red, green, yellow and orange appear everywhere. The brown leaves crunch the best.”
The arrival of fall comes with a promise of fun yet to come — the beginning of school, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and then, “yes, maybe a beautiful snow storm,” D. said.
“Early darkness is a sign it’s time to ‘hibernate’ and slow down (like a bear) after a busy, fun-filled summer,” D. said. “Fall is cozy, getting under blankets, wearing comfy robes and sweatshirts.”
For Connecticut Patch reader Lisa, there is no other answer.
“Fall is the perfect season. The weather is warm during the day and cool at night, and driving around looking at fall foliage is a pleasure for many people,” she said.
“The other seasons fall very short of, well, fall,” Lisa continued. “Winter is too cold and too long, and driving in the snow and ice can be dangerous. Spring is too rainy and too short, and driving in rainstorms can be hazardous. Summer is too hot and too sweaty, and driving with the sun in your eyes can be blinding.”
Loosh, another Connecticut Patch reader, begs to differ. Fall is Loosh’s favorite, but winter is a close second.
“Never cared for the hot weather, and the older I get, the less I can tolerate it,” Loosh said. “Chill and cold feel good, fresh and cozy. I enjoy wind and colorful leaves, trees without leaves, snow and longer nights. … Love these seasons, more so now, being retired. Don’t have to show up to work in snowy weather.”
Spring: It’s Not Winter
Survey respondents’ second-favorite season was spring, a clear winner for Connecticut Patch reader Ruby, who was a little Goldilocks and The Three Bears-ish in her answer.
“Summer is too hot. The cold in winter doesn’t bother me, but I don’t like the snow, as I live along and have to shovel it. Fall is my worst season because everything begins to die, and my yard is full of leaves, which I have to hire someone to haul away,” Ruby said. “Spring is a new awakening of trees, flowers, etc. — definitely my favorite.”
Other readers said that because spring follows winter is reason enough to give it most-favored season status.
“After a cold, hard winter, spring arrives with warmth,” Pennsylvania Patch reader Linda said. “The birds return to sing their songs and the green of growing plants kisses the Earth. Flowers burst alive with color and fragrance. Daylight takes center stage until there are 12 hours of it!
“What is not to love about spring?” Linda continued. “Summer is too hot in Pennsylvania, and while I do also love fall, it is the harbinger of winter, which I do not like.”
“It offers endless hope,” said Maryland Patch reader Steve.
New York Patch reader Elizabeth also sees hope in the longer, brighter days of spring after a cold winter. She drinks it all in — the change from light to dark green in the trees, the blooming flowers, the birds busily making nests to lay eggs, all of it.
“Nature is magnificent,” she said
Spring punches above its weight because it comes after winter in Rae’s book, too.
“That in itself is enough for me, along with everything starting to bud and bloom and the birds returning to their feeders,” the Connecticut Patch reader said.
Spring: ‘It’s Funner,’ Too
Virginia Patch reader Alice eagerly awaits spring blooms each year.
“I love the fresh green leaves and the new blossoms on trees and flowering plants such as daffodils and, later, magnolias, dogwoods, cherry blossoms, and azaleas,” Alice said.
California Patch reader Patty loves spring “because so much is being newly born, and reborn, and everything is just sprouting up, reminding you that life goes on — and it can be beautiful. And it’s OK.”
Michigan Patch reader Papa likes that “nature awakens for a new start” in the spring. “The landscape greens up and flower and tree blossoms abound,” Papa said. “The air warms and there is more sunshine.”
“Watching the Earth come alive and critters become active” does it for Florida Patch reader Pamela, who previously lived in New Jersey.
Octopi, a New Jersey Patch reader, only needed a couple of words:
“It’s funner.”
‘You Don’t Have To Wear Clothes’
Rhode Island Patch reader Terri thinks summer is the bomb diggity.
“It’s so warm you don’t even have to wear clothes (unless you’re in public of course), but even then, you’re wearing fewer clothes than in any other season,” Terri said. “There is less laundry because there are no bulky winter clothes in the wash, the days are longer, you get better gas mileage with summer gas, there are no leaves to rake, no snow to shovel, and the summer sun boosts vitamin D levels. Summer has cool breezes and warm summer rains so you can go outside and play in the rain.
“Summer has warm nights to be spent listening to peep frogs and crickets. People socialize more in the summer whereas they tend to ‘hunker down’ and isolate in the winter,” Terri continued. “There are festivals, county fairs, amusement parks, live outdoor music, dining alfresco, beach days, no school, days at the park, fireworks, picnics, biking, swimming, cook outs, camping this list goes on and on. … They don’t call it ‘summer fun’ for nothing!”
Maryland Patch reader Lisa is a fan, too.
“I love the heat!” she said. “I love to be outside in the sun and at the beach, and hate being cold.”
New Jersey Patch reader Trishy said she spends “every waking moment I can down the shore at our beautiful beaches.”
“Summer makes me feel alive,” she said. “The days are longer, and depression goes away.”
Vernell, an Illinois Patch reader, is an avid gardener and senior citizen who finds “great joy” in tending her flowers during the summer months, so different from the cold northern winters.
“No matter what the day brings or how bad, I can always go outside and work in my yard, thereby relieving any and all stress that may come my way,” Vernell said. “I enjoy the colorful arrangements and take great pride in my accomplishments. I consider all my flowers as all my children. I love to plant things and watch them flourish.”
The only thing wrong with summer is that it doesn’t last long enough, according to New Hampshire Patch reader Liz, who said:
“I love the abundant sunlight and the warmth, even really hot and humid days. The days are longer and lighter, it feels like vacation most days especially when I can spend the day at the pool with my other retired friends! We swim and talk and enjoy the sun and each other’s company.”
New York Patch reader Josie said her favorite season, summer, gets some serious competition from fall because “the humidity leaves and the pumpkins appear,” and also spring, the season of renewal. Winter isn’t even in the running, “so why do I live in the Northeast?” Josie wonders.
“Summer is most likely still my favorite season,” Josie said. “As a kid it meant no school or homework. I looked forward to going to day camp yearly. Fast-forward many years, and I felt the same way when raising my son. The days and nights were more carefree!”
‘Winter’s Wet, Muddy Cousin’
Connecticut Patch reader R.C. likes the smell of summer.
“Love opening windows and summer rain smells,” R.C. said.
Marilyn, who splits her time between Florida and Rhode Island, fondly remembers a poster from youth promoting the 1966 American surfing documentary, “The Endless Summer.”
“I can still picture it,” Marilyn said. “I like being warm, and the ease of wearing shorts and tees. I like hearing the ocean, birds, coyotes and a little music playing softly in the background.
“But,” she continued, “if and when those pesky mosquitoes come around in force, I can’t wait for the chill (and all things pumpkin) of fall!”
Georgia Patch reader Chris is likely to start crying when that happens because it means the approaching end to blooming plants.
“I basically sob when the first frost kills them,” Chris said. “Everything looks like cooked collard greens after a hard frost.”
Massachusetts Patch reader Wolfgang’s take on hot, humid Florida summers is different from Marilyn’s. He suffered through them when he lived there, but since moving to Massachusetts in the late 1990s, he’s grown to appreciate summer.
“Summer is my favorite season here because even though we may have a few days in a row of low 90s and high humidity it typically comes back to the low 80s and less humidity,” Wolfgang said. “It’s wonderful weather to do so many activities from beach to pickleball and with more hours of daylight there’s more time to enjoy.”
Wolfgang’s second-favorite season is fall because, he explained, “spring here is basically just winter’s wet, muddy cousin, except for a few weeks in May if we’re lucky.”
‘I Just Like The Cold Weather’
Not everyone thinks of winter as the relative they allow only under protest to take up residence for three months.
It helps if people who live in Minnesota like winter. Some parts of the state received close to 100 inches of snow in the 2022-23 winter. Hardy Minnesotan Blair doesn’t mind a good workout clearing the snow from a long driveway and sidewalks.
“I’m fortunate enough to live in a state that has four distinct seasons. They all have their merits, but I’m a real fan of winter,” Blair said. “When it snows, there’s nothing better than getting out with the kids on sleds, snowboards and skis. We love to ice skate, too. Winter is also my quiet time when I spend a lot of time enjoying the slower pace of things until scheduling hell breaks loose in the spring.
“Winter should get more respect,” Blair concluded. “We need movement.”
“Ahhh, the peaceful silence of winter,” said Ellen , another Minnesota Patch reader. “Leaf blowers, lawn mowers and loud motorcycles all come to an end. … Barking dogs are kept inside. At night the white glow of the land is nature’s nightlight and everything can be seen. Cozy blankets and no yard work. Snow removal isn’t daily like yard work. Stepping outside is a burst of feeling alive. Humidity of summer dragging one down is gone, and the cool fresh air wakens the body and mind. Snowfalls are magical.”
This says it all about winter for Pennsylvania Patch reader Petey: “Warm clothes, blankets, snow, soup.”
And this sums up the season for Maryland Patch reader Kay: “No pollen. Crisp weather. No sweating. More energy.”
“Snow is so beautiful!” J., another Maryland Patch reader, said. “Christmas lights are so pretty in the dark. I love cuddling under a blanket near a fire. I also love snow sports like skiing, sledding, and ice skating.”
“I love the snow!” Virginia Patch reader Bonnie said. “Being a teacher, I enjoyed hearing ‘snow day.’ Also, the clothes in the winter are more classy looking (boots, sweaters, leather and suedes).”
“I just like cold weather,” Pennsylvania Patch reader Jody said.
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