Friday, September 21, 2012

Fall Equinox

    Sometime in the next few hours the sun will be shining directly on the equator for a few brief moments before it crosses to shine more directly on the southern hemisphere. That means we get the last day of summer and first day of fall. So it's the beginning of a darker colder season for us. In the southern hemisphere they are looking forward to increasing light and warmth. 
A huge aspen in brilliant color although the left side is still hanging on to the green.
Contrast with green and yellow on the same tree.

     So the equinox is a day with some significance. Ancient peoples knew that the day and night were equal. They also had a pretty accurately established the time. They had more fun than us because the equinox was celebrated in some fashion according to the different cultures. 
A green ash  in fine color.
Some maple behind caragana which hasn't turned color.
     So here we go enjoying colorful foliage and reaping our crops. I have harvested most of my vegetable garden. I'm waiting for a few good frosts before I take out carrots,  turnips and parsnips. My few carrots may be finished before we get the good hard frost. 

     So to the southerners enjoy your spring and summer. For us northerners we will have to make some changes to survive comfortably and find different things to do outdoors for fun.

33 comments:

  1. i'm looking forward to some cooler weather here in texas, although our summer was nothing like last year's dreadful season. :)

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    1. I an see where you would like some cooler weather.

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  2. Well I have news for you Red. It arrived here I think on August 1st! The weirdest August ever on record - no Antarctic winds and no rain. Still no rain! The suburban lawns are rapidly turning brown! Still water restrictions from before the floods of 2010! Yet the dams are 98% full. Water usage costs are so unbelievably high. But the estimates by the experts are that the present dam levels would last for general water usage for another 10 years!!!!
    My last water bill and I live in an small apartment rose over $100.00 in the last quarter!
    I have asked for a recheck and will not pay until I see another 'checker' - now all outsourced persons and unaccountable to the water authorities. What a joke! Buck passing as the saying regrettably goes.
    Enjoy your skiing seasons, I might even get to like to see your snow????
    Oh by the way - Air Canada has now got from 1st December (summer here) - 10 direct flights a week to Vancouver from Sydney for your skiing season.
    Big advertisements today on this one in the papers travel section.
    Your Autumn (Fall) trees look lovely.
    Cheers
    Colin (Brisbane.Australia)

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  3. Your fall colors are a bit ahead of here, but the change is apparent all around me. I get fall fever as well as spring fever and love to be outside.I camp year round, but after a hot summer spend most of my time off in my tent right now.

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    1. Good for you to camp year round. If you have the proper equipment camping is comfortable at all seasons. You do have to become acclimated to it.

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  4. This is the time of year when I want to drag my easel outside to paint fall-colored landscapes.

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    1. I can see that you'd like to paint at this time of year. The senses are overwhelmed with color.

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  5. Lets hope you get to see a good show. No frost and no wind is required.

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  6. I love fall, but I will really miss summer! Your trees were lovely. We are hoping the leaves hold on in Massachusetts until we get there next month! Not looking promising for that though...I am afraid fall color is coming early!

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    1. I think it's early this year because it had an early start. The leaves had done all they were supposed to and then they quit.

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  7. I have GOT to dig up my potatoes and pick my pumpkins. I'm playing Russian roulette with the frost right now. We've already had two light frosts.

    That ash tree is gorgeous!

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    1. I usually leave potatoes until just before the ground freezes. Pumpkins will take a lot of frost too.

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  8. Your tree is a nice one, showing that it's early in the season yet. I think I'll take some pictures of the fall colors today, too, the first day of fall! It will happen here in exactly two hours, 7:49am!

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    1. You've got it timed down to the minute. The display is brief here as the leaves fall very rapidly.

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  9. The trees on our Main Street are just turning on the tops. Before much longer, there will be the ever picturesque photo everyone adores. I love walking and especially love this 2 mile hike in fall with the colourful foilage. Great photos Red and love the contrast. Our Arena opens Monday for skating - just got my blades out yesterday and am anticipating the first skate. Great Post.

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    1. Enjoy the skate and two mile colorful hike.

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  10. I was so angry at the hot summer, but darn she left!

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    1. Things happen. It's suddenly got dry here.

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  11. That's a lovely tree. I always hate to see summer go but I have to admit that autumn is a fine season.

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    1. The tree is also very huge. It's tall and very wide. It's a good thing we get fall so that we become acclimatized for winter.

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  12. For here, right now, as I write, the day is lovely...a super nice 80*...tomorrow we will start to see a slight decline...to 75* I have to get my head around this, because we really do need winter with lots and lots of snow!


    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
    http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

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    1. From 80 you've got a long way to go for snow. Now I know you're like us and things can change very suddenly.

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  13. Greeted the Equinox with a bunch of very nice folks on a birding field trip this morning. It was a gorgeous, blue sky start to the Fall.

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    1. This is a good time to bird as all the migrant are moving. We see some sparrows only during migration

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  14. My veggie garden sooo failed this year. I am happy to share the joy you have in yours!
    Cheers from Cottage Country!

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    1. Yes, you had a challenge there this year. We had a very good season once it got started. Early in the season it was very cool and wet.

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  15. the cool nights are so wonderful here in central pa...

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    1. I'll bet you appreciate some cooling off.

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  16. Red! I have done my sleuthing re food coding here.
    Canada:

    "Sleeves Canadian Maple Syrup"
    Since 1869.
    Product and produced in Canada.
    Imported to Australia.
    Number - International coding.
    0 65254 72436 2.

    So the first group of numbers must be the Canadian produced ones. It will be funny if you do not have this information on the products label!!!
    I might add that the cost of the Canadian variety was cheaper than some of the Australian/New Zealand ones - $4.99, which means $5.00!!!
    Cheers
    Colin (Brisbane. Australia)

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    1. Interesting stuff. You've got me looking.
      And I've never heard of Sleeves maple syrup. I guess it's just for export.

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  17. Your fall foliage is a little ahead but then you are farther North. We are seeing yellow begin to show up and the temps are going to be much cooler this week.
    It's time to settle down and read a few good books. :)

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  18. Our leaves change color and fall off very quickly.

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