Seasonal changes and musings

We've had a long extended fall season, with colorful leaves persisting for weeks.

The ginkgo leaves are at their peak now, with an beautiful golden color.  They'll all drop any day, but they're glorious while they're here.   The dogwoods, even in spite of their drought-stressed summer, are putting on a show of reds and oranges.

The kids I had outside in a program today delighted in the perfect fall weather, which was clear and cool, following several rainy days.

We discovered fall fruits and seeds (having them squish them between their fingers is always interesting - I demonstrate- -- are they sticky, indicating sugars, or smooth, indicating lipids, how many seeds are in each fruit, etc.?)

Who eats them?  Oh, they're poisonous, many kids say when looking at red fruits.

Hmm, why do you think red fruits are 'poisonous', I ask, after some 'wait' time.  Hmm, what eats these berries or fruits?  And we talk about the virtues of being sugary or being lipid-rich. I finally explain that red fruits are basically signaling 'I'm ready to eat.'

Aha!

Read more...

Lots of rain

We were still behind a bit on rainfall for this year, but should be caught up now, thanks to the remnants of Ida. Our rain gauge measured 4 1/2 inches, but we probably got more, since its location is buffered by the holly hedge.

One of my colleages who lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Escarpment (a much heavier rainfall zone) said that they had 8 1/2 inches in 24 hours.

I'm doing a Nature Discovery Walk, focused on seasonal ecology tomorrow -- lots to observe and talk about.

Read more...

A crescent moon

Tonight's crescent moon is bright in the night sky, with a planet or star visible to the left. I wish I knew more about astronomy, planets and the constellations, but it's always seemed so remote.

August crescent moon

Plants, animals, forests, meadows, gardens, and streams seem so much more immediate.

I like to think, though, of the rhythms of people and wildlife that are much more attuned to the night sky than I am. Migrating birds and insects are able to follow cues detected from various sources, supporting their night journeys. People living close to the land, and not detached as so many of us are, traditionally observe not only the change of seasons, but the cycles of the moon.

Read more...