I was driving through our local mountains a few days ago, during the peak of fall foliage. The way the sunlight flickered through the vibrantly colored leaves reminded me of just how much I love this season.

Remember when practically everyone in the neighborhood raked up the fallen leaves into huge piles? And remember joyfully destroying those piles by jumping into them? If you’re a kid and have never done that, drop what you’re doing and try to find a fresh pile right away. You’ll thank me later.

I grew up a stone’s throw from Walnut Mountain in Liberty, NY. I still love hiking up there in the fall. I love the sound the leaves make under my feet on the path. I love how fresh and clean the air smells—it seems to me that this is the actual season Mother Nature does spring cleaning of her own.

In years past, while sitting high on a rock on Walnut Mountain, I’ve had the privilege of seeing a snowy owl fly overhead. I’ve also shared an afternoon with five red foxes—a mom and her four pups, who sat about three feet from me. I have a bunch of chickens now, so I’d prefer that foxes stay further away, but at that time, being that close and at peace with those beautiful creatures was special to me.

Have you noticed how active the animals around us are these days? While it’s true that I don’t like seeing a deer on the side of the road while I’m riding in a car at dusk, I love seeing two or three of them gathered together in a field in the woods, peacefully grazing.

Peace. That’s very much a word I associate with the fall. It seems to me like the calmest of seasons. I love light-jacket weather, and our local mountains are never more inviting than they are during this season. If you haven’t done so yet, you owe yourself a walk on a hilly path before the snow flies.

That’s why I chose this wafer-paper autumn flower for this month’s project. It’s easy to do, and it looks beautiful. Use it as a cake topper, put it on a cookie, or just let it stand alone. As always, feel free to experiment and make your own choices regarding shapes and colors.

And if you happen to come across a pile of raked leaves, remember—you don’t necessarily have to resist the temptation to jump in.

Kim M. Simons is an artist, food artist and cake artist. She and her team—the Bah Hum Bakers—were champions on Food Network’s “Holiday Wars” in 2019. Her cookbook, consisting of gluten-free recipes, titled “Get All Cook-y with Kim,” is available on amazon.com. Kim also teaches classes. Visit her website, www.cakesbykimsimons.com.

Paint the wafer paper with petal dust, which should be mixed with Dilution Solution.

Cut the painted wafer paper into strips, and fold. Trim the edges around...

Spray the inside of two petals with Paper Potion, then stick them together. Trim if necessary, then repeat until all petals have been created...

Paint the inside of a veiner mold with petal dust diluted with a little water...

Press a petal into the veiner mold. ..

Use a small wooden dowel to create texture. ..

Place on aluminum foil to dry. Repeat until all petals are complete...

Once petals are dry, stick them together with piping gel...

Create the center of the flower out of fondant. Attach to petals. Shape with cake tool. Press the prefabricated stamens into the center. ..

Paint the center with petal dust mixed with Dilution Solution...

Add detail and highlights to the petals with Jewel Colors from Sweet Chalet...

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Orange Wafer Paper Flower Steps

1. Paint the wafer paper with petal dust (mixed with Dilution Solution).
2. Cut the painted wafer paper into strips, and fold. Trim the edges round.
3. Spray the inside of two petals with Paper Potion, then stick them together. Trim if necessary, then repeat until all petals have been created.
4. Paint the inside of a veiner mold with petal dust diluted with a little water.
5. Press a petal into the veiner mold.
6. Use a small wooden dowel to create texture.
7. Place in aluminum foil to dry. Repeat until all petals are complete/ 
8. Once petals are dry, stick them together with piping gel.
9. Create the center of the flower out of fondant. Attach to petals. Shape with cake tool. Press the prefabricated stamens into the center.
10. Paint the center with petal dust mixed with Dilution Solution.
11. Add detail and highlights to the petals with Jewel Colors from the Sweet Chalet.