The Seasons Roll On

I'm back, and got the article with its immediate deadline done, sent off and approved for publication.  Sometime I'll adapt it for a blog post, but meanwhile I have several things to catch up on.  I'm still working on a couple of other pieces that need to evolve in my head and will take a good deal longer.  I will likely miss a few posts here.

today I want to reflect on the changing seasons.  I've never believed there were just four seasons, or that they start and end on the equinox and solstice as scheduled.  This year is just like all the others as we start moving into fall in early August and see the peak of the fall colours in early October.  More than half the fall season according to the planets is the desolate grey of November and early December.

To me, the yellow of the Goldenrod marks the coming of August, the end of summer and the beginning of fall.  I always watch for it's bright yellow blooms.  It always seems to arrive when summer is only half-way over!

Here around Meaford and Clarksburg the apple season is the biggest indicator of early fall once September arrives.  Apples are ripening on the trees and the big bins are ready for the harvest, largely picked by migrant workers.  This farm is switching to the big plastic bins from the old wooden ones.  We bought our first new apples of the season, some Early Gold and Zestars, just the other day.

Most birds have been out of sight the past 6 weeks, and many have already left for sunnier climes.  It's the quietest time of the entire year for birds.  I think I've only heard a single Nuthatch in the past two weeks, not even Blue Jays or Crows.  But the Ring-billed Gulls are back, gathering together on the golf course in early morning, presumably feeding on worms.  They are so dispersed during the day, I don't know where these al come from!

Not many butterflies left either, though the Monarchs are gathering to migrate, clusters of them on bushes over along the Lake Huron shore.  All these look bright orange and untattered, the most recent generation that has just emerged.

And finally, just the past week, the trees are starting to turn colour. Just small hints in these pictures, but we saw quite a few yellow leaves driving to Owen Sound and back yesterday.

Crops too are looking different.  The wheat is harvested and now only the soybeans and corn remain for this year.  Both are looking mature, and the beans are turning yellow.

Here at home the garden is nearing the end, but we're overwhelmed with tomatoes.  These will be the last though, and garden clean-up has begun.  Mrs. F.G. is progressing steadily with the new plantings and transplanting, with the help of our gardener who does the heavy work.  He should be arriving in about 20 minutes today.

The fall flowers are in bloom, the Brown-eyed Susans, the Butterfly Bush, the Echinacea and this gentle pink Fall Anemone, food for a foraging bee.

And pumpkins are for sale, including the occasional giant one here.  We have new front planters and 3 small pumpkins sitting out front.

It's supposed to be a nice day and I'm hoping the sun will peek through the light cloud cover a lot!  Good day to be out and about.  Hope your weekend goes well.