In the crisp September air of Plitvice Lake's forest, I stumbled upon a delicate relic of autumn's arrival—a dried maple leaf. Once vibrant with the hues of summer, it now adorned itself in warm tones of amber and russet. Each intricately veined contour told a story of transition, echoing the seasonal metamorphosis within the heart of Croatia's natural haven. As I held this delicate leaf, a fleeting masterpiece of nature, I couldn't help but marvel at the poetic beauty of time's gentle touch on the foliage of Plitvice.