Thursday, October 7, 2010 — Autumn is in the air. Can't you just feel it? And, before it gets too cold, here are a few ideas to get the most out of what this season has to offer.

For starters, you can now buy your very own apple tree at Peterson's Hardware Store. Peterson's Hardware Store. In fact, they're going like hot cakes--or shall we say like hot apple pies--with residents from every neighborhood running to Peterson's to get their bit of nature before they"re all gone.

"I'm so excited to make homemade apple pies with the apples growing in my own backyard!" one Metro Park resident exclaimed as she hurried about her yard, bushels of apples in hand. "This is genius!"

Another excited resident said he was planning on throwing an apple-bobbing party, explaining, "To set up the game, just fill a tub or large bucket with water, and put in your apples. Because apples are less heavy than water, they'll float along the surface. Then take turns trying to grab (or "bob" for) an apple with your teeth, without using your hands!"

Having never played before, we secured an invite and promised to bring our own apples, too.

In related news, some lucky farmers were given the ride of their life, down at Grow Good Farms last night! Giovanna Antonia de Luca, the owner of Grow Good, had a friend in town who took everyone around on a haunted hay ride.

One enthusiastic resident gave us the scoop: "It was a horse-drawn carriage full of hay...and all of my friends! We rode through rows of corn stalks and an apple orchard. Giovanna was also on the hay ride, telling us a scary story."

Hay rides, haunted or not, are always a great way to celebrate the beauty of fall. It's also the perfect way to take a moment to breathe in the fresh autumn air and take some fun pictures (if you can handle the bumpy ride!).

So pick up your own apple tree, place it in your yard, and get inspired for the bounty of great things that fall has to offer.