
What are the first signs of fall? What happens to nature in the fall?
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I'm originally from Chicago where September was warm but changing to cooler temperatures, school began and children played outdoors until much colder. October meant sailing on Lake Michigan for those of means, brilliant blue skies, apples, pomegranates, taffy apples , homemade doughnuts and making costumes for Halloween, my favorite holiday full of giddy childhood memories. I've lived in the south where it was too warm to really enjoy the changes, in the desert SW where it was too hot too much of the time, and now the Pacific NW which is perfect for me. The fruit growing region yields tasty pears, oodles of apple choices and gorgeous scenery especially when Mt. Hood is snowcapped by November. The most colorful Autumn, however, was in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont where pumpkins filled fields, leaves burst into view, maple syrup topped pancakes and covered bridges beckoned the traveler to linger just a little longer. How splendid in this change that invites pause, contemplation and serenity. Leaf peeping has never been so grand!
We live in NE TN in the Blue Ridge Mtns & the very 1st sign I see are the Locust trees' leaves turning brown, followed by acorns, which are now falling. Wooly Worms appear, my Basil turns brown & most trees leaves begin to fall. Far less cicadas din at night & baby birds shriek at their mommas for food, bc they've been weaned. Most of our hummingbirds have gone, although I saw one brave fellow just last night (9/18). The spider webs are not only bigger, but thicker as well! If you accidentally walk into one, you know it's much more stout than previous webs! As mentioned above, days are shorter, cooler & much more breezy. I begin making more soups & stews as well. We throw the windows open & welcome cooler, less humid weather to air out the house. We hate to see summer go, but embrace the more comfortable temps & just go with the Fall flow!
The silence in the mornings. Charlestown, MA
One of the very first signs of fall here in the north Georgia mountains is the color of the deer. Their coats are changing from a tan to darker brown. Happens every year right after Labor Day.
I live in Southeastern Kentucky. We have 4 seasonsâalthough most are warmer now than when I was a child in late â70s-early â80s, and the seasons tend to overlap and mesh. We can have heavy snow in March or April, frost until late May, or close to 90 degree temps in November and December (and sometimes January) all in those same months having ice and snow, too!! Here the saying -if you donât like the weather, just wait!-is engrained in all of us. The main reason I dislike Fall is the decreased sunlight. It starts in July by a few minutes until by this time of year it is dark by 8pm down from peak Summer at still some light by 9:30pm. Most days in Fall here are still very hot and by the time the end of October arrives, and it starts to really cool, it goes straight to freezing cold!!!!! But my main complaint is the shorter days. I do not like driving at night and I work generally until 6pm-8pm most days. It just means depression to me and most people I know also feel this way. We dread the time âfalling backâ and wish we could keep EDT as the standard time year round.
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