September-signs of fall

As faithfully as the diurnal sun rises and sets, the seasons change and with it brings change. Our lives, too, can depend upon change. I love the Facebook discussion and rebellion over the changing homepage design. I find that the change brings new ideas, new discussion, and more discourse. Education, my field, depended upon that pendulum of change. Each year, each new principle or new senior staff, or new Ministry of Education Minister and new government brought change. The funny thing is that the pendulum always swung. (But that is a topic for My Reflections and Musings blog!)

With the changing temperatures (see my Fall Beginnings photos) the foliage punctuates the impending winter solstice. Our lows have ranged from 1 degree Celsius, in open areas, to double-digit daytime highs of 20.

The bulrushes have moved through their reproductive cycle: their cattails are ready for the winter winds and snow. Formerly used by Native Peoples as absorbent materials, the wind takes it across marshes and ponds.

The creatures are feverishly gathering winter stores. The bees have been filling their pollen sacs. The photo shows its little yellow packages of sweet goodness. My wasp trap remains empty, as I could not fool them in their pursuit of winter shelter. I had to remove nest after nest in our storage cupboard that had cracks that simply invited guests.

We walked under a tree that was apparently flinging its green pine cones at us. My understanding is that they do not fall until ripe, and dry. Upon further examination, we spotted an arrogant red squirrel (from the species: 'tree rat') atop a deeply green conifer. The cones were scattered on the ground, cluttering the roadway. It was unstoppable. Such fierce critters.

The maples began to exchange their summer suits for delightful yellows, then golds and reds. The tips of branches seem gleeful in beating the rest of the tree to dress up for the season.

The sumac, previously delicate and frail, and gently wafting in the spring winds, has grown tall and strong as it works its way through its seasonal cycle of life. The succulent berries have grown and turned into bright red, soft, fuzzy little grape-like clusters. The leaves, long fronds that responded to rains and winds of summer, have turned colours. The maple leaves, now red on the tips of many tall trees, similarly herald the coming of fall. I always looked forward to fall. After a summer happily toiling in the garden, playing in the water and observing the summer visitors, fair and fowl, I welcome a rest and the pursuit of other projects.

The remnants of Hurricane Hanna brought us sparkling waters and wind, while Tropical Storm Ike, after its trip up central North America, dumped many cms of rain (see the video!), refilling our frog pond and lakes. The high water, as well as snow cover, protects both animal and vegetable over our extreme temperatures.