The seasons are slowly changing, and September invites us to enjoy the last traces of summer while looking ahead to everything autumn has to offer.
This month is all about holding on to that summer energy: getting outside, discovering new places, surrounding yourself with people who inspire you, and enjoying fresh, seasonal food. Because even though the days are getting shorter, there are still plenty of little moments to enjoy. 🌿🍂
September always comes with mixed feelings.
Summer isn't quite gone yet, but you can feel that change is in the air. The mornings are getting a little cooler, the evenings a little shorter, and suddenly you realise: the summer of 2026 is really coming to an end.
And honestly? I'm not quite ready to let it go.
This summer felt special. People seemed lighter somehow. More spontaneous, more open, more excited to go out and enjoy life. There were parties, long evenings, new friendships and those unexpected conversations with people you might never see again—but who still leave you with a little bit of their energy.
Maybe that's one of my favourite things about summer: meeting new people, sharing experiences, learning from each other and simply enjoying where the day takes you.
There was a lot of talk about 2026 being the new summer of 2016… and somehow, it really did feel that way.
So yes, I'm already experiencing a little FOMO knowing it's almost over.
But perhaps that's exactly why September is the perfect month to squeeze out those final drops of summer before we start embracing what's next.
One last taste of summer
Over the past month, I've tried to make the most of every opportunity to get outside.
One of my favourite discoveries was a French market in Rotterdam, filled with handmade products, food, plants and small independent businesses.
And instead of taking the train, I cycled there.
Something I've really rediscovered this summer is just how much freedom a bike gives you. No waiting for trains, no schedules. You simply get on your bike and go.
If you usually choose public transport, try cycling somewhere instead. Even if it's just once. Take a route you've never taken before and see where it brings you. You might be surprised by how much you notice along the way.
At the market, one little business immediately caught my eye. A young woman had transformed an old Volkswagen van into her own tiny plant shop.
Plants spilling out of a vintage van at a French market? How could I possibly walk past that?
It's exactly these small, creative businesses that make local markets so much fun to explore. You never quite know what—or who—you'll discover.
And perhaps you'll even go home with a little more greenery than you planned. 🌱
Make the most of those light mornings
Another thing I'll definitely miss when autumn arrives? Those bright early mornings.
While they're still here, I've been using them as an excuse to discover more breakfast and coffee spots around the city.
We often make plans to go out for lunch or dinner, but why not make breakfast the occasion?
Start your day early, find a cosy café you've never visited before and order the coffee you would normally make at home. Because let's be honest: coffee you don't have to make yourself somehow always tastes a little better. ☕
Go with friends and turn it into a long breakfast, or go by yourself and make it a proper slow morning. Bring the book that's been sitting on your nightstand, take your journal, order something delicious and simply enjoy having nowhere else to be for a while.
It's also such an easy way to rediscover your own city.
You don't always need a plane ticket or weekend away to experience something new. Sometimes there's a new favourite place waiting just a few streets away.
Surround yourself with good energy
If there's one thing I want to take with me from this summer, it's the people.
Summer has a way of bringing us together. We spend more time outdoors, say yes to spontaneous plans and somehow seem to talk to people we might normally walk straight past.
And that reminded me how important it is to surround yourself with people who give you energy.
People who inspire you. Who make you laugh. Who encourage you to try something new. Who make an ordinary evening feel like one you'll remember.
As we slowly move towards the colder months—and I can barely believe I'm saying that already—hold onto those people.
Summer might be ending, but that energy doesn't have to disappear with it.
A little green goodness from closer to home
Of course, September isn't only about saying goodbye to summer. It's also one of those wonderful months where there is still plenty to harvest.
So I escaped the city for a little while and did what I love doing whenever I get the chance: raiding my father's vegetable garden. 🌱
Fresh broccoli? Yes please.
Pointed cabbage? Straight into the bag.
There is something incredibly satisfying about picking vegetables that have been growing just a few metres away. No supermarket shelves, no unnecessary packaging—just fresh, seasonal food straight from the soil.
And those greens are exactly what I want on my plate as the seasons begin to change.
It also reminds me that growing your own doesn't have to mean having an enormous vegetable garden. A balcony, windowsill or a few pots can already give you plenty of space to start.
The Botanian Grow Pots are perfect for creating your own little growing corner, even when space is limited. Start with your favourite herbs or vegetables, experiment with what works and enjoy the feeling of eventually harvesting something you've grown yourself.
And with the cooler months approaching, growing doesn't have to stop either. The Botanian Mini Greenhouse makes it easy to bring your growing projects indoors and gives new seeds a protected place to get started.
Because a change of season doesn't mean the end of growing. Sometimes, it simply means finding a new place to do it.
That's what being a Botanian is all about. 🌿
Maybe autumn isn't so bad after all…
So here we are.
Slowly saying goodbye to long summer evenings, spontaneous bike rides, sunny terraces and that wonderfully carefree energy that seems to come with summer.
But I'm trying not to look at September as the end of something.
Instead, maybe it's the beginning of something new.
Cosy mornings. Seasonal food. Long walks while the leaves change colour. Warm drinks. Cooking at home. Candles on. Slowing down a little.
Okay… maybe autumn secretly sounds pretty good too.
However you're feeling about the season ahead, take all that warmth, spontaneity and good energy from summer with you.
Keep exploring. Keep meeting people who inspire you. Keep finding little moments to enjoy.
And don't be afraid to slow down when the season asks you to.
Summer may be ending, but there's still plenty to look forward to. 🍂💚
Will you join us again next month?
Because I might just have a few reasons why autumn deserves a little more love than we're willing to admit…
