Yesterday, our major area you pick apple orchard closed for the season. They have plenty of apples to sell, but no more apples to pick.
A large farmstand in the next county over has announced its Halloween closing for the season. They "may" stay open weekends in November, until the weather becomes too cold.
Most of our ice cream stands have already closed. Few stay open year round.
It's the great closing.
One by one things shut down for the winter. Many of our trees are shutting down, even as they still look green. As they do, they withhold food from their leaves, which lose the green that enables them to feed from sunlight. They turn their true colors, yellow or red, and finally fall off.
It isn't just leaves falling from trees. It's been a mast year for oaks in many areas, dropping massive numbers of acorns. Where we live, the black walnuts have dropped abundant amounts of their nuts.
They know.
Chickadees and tufted titmice visit our feeder and take away one seed at a time. Those seeds are then carefully hidden for the winter. The songs of robins (now settling in down south, for the most part) have been replaced by the chattering of squirrels and the caw-caw of crows. They know.
We may have our first frost Monday night. If not, there is another chance as we near the weekend. Do my frost tender plants know their days are numbered?
It got up to 79 degrees F (26 C) yesterday, but we all know better. Summer will end today around 4pm as a cold front travels through our area. We are already getting rain from the approaching system. Temperatures will plunge at least 20 degrees.
Nature is sending out the signals.
Time to close.
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| Last three pictures taken October 14 |
Time to hunker down.
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| January 2021 |
Winter is coming.
It’s warm and sunny here right now, but a cold front is coming ….and with it, real fall weather.
ReplyDeleteIt's been through here - it's on its way to you. Prepare!
Delete...the walnuts are piling up here!
ReplyDeleteYes. What a mess for those who have these on their property.
DeleteI find joy watching the season change.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
Yes, there is the joy, too. It's a good way to look at it because it's coming, regardless of how we feel.
DeleteWe had Juncos here twice last week, we call them snow birds...they were just moving North!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't spring seem like just yesterday?
DeleteAre there also things that open in the fall and winter and close for the spring and summer?
ReplyDeleteGood question, John! Not so much as in the warmer climes (like yours). At one time I would have said "ski resorts" but they are year round now. Our somewhat local one even has an indoor water park and ziplines. But certainly, you can't snow ski in the summer.
DeleteThankfully, our ice cream stands and farmers markets are year round denizens.
ReplyDeleteWe had 90-degree days the last couple days of the week. Today the temp dropped. We're heading into cooler days, too.
ReplyDelete