An old man years ago gave me a bit of advise about how to tell when fall was approaching regardless of the calendar or the Meteorological markers of December1st, to March 1st. as a marker for winter rather than the 20-22 as in a lunar cycle. Leaves flip. That's right. They somehow manage to turn in such a way that they display the bottom of the leaf more toward the sun. Of course, there was some reservation about the statement, but over the years since, I have observed this display happen year after year after year. Well, it's happening right now, here where such things usually are the starting of the growing season in brilliant green rather than the harvest of colorization. As most probably already know, spring buds start in the south and move about 20 miles per day until they reach the area of the shortest growing season of the year. Then, the fall colors start in the north and move south about 20-miles per day reaching the southern most area of deciduous shed near the winter solstice.
The second method that also works well is the shift in the northern jet stream which allows for the northern cold fronts to move south as the sun makes its way to the Tropic of Cancer for the shortest day of the year. My grandfather always followed the Farmer's Almanac and the old sayings that were accurate when I learned some of them as a kid and are still accurate today (e.g. "When clouds are high and thin, a weather system is moving in").
But, as for today, it was absolutely delightful! The first time all summer it has been like it once was before acres and miles and acres and miles of cement and asphalt began collecting heat and then radiating it like an oven to triple digits and then some. It was so great to be out of the house, but what was even better was that the AC wasn't needed in the car and the windows were down with a mostly cool breeze blowing. The sunroof would have been open had I made it out earlier in the morning. However, before going out this morning, I checked the National Weather Service site and put the map loop into motion. The low pressure was setting where it has been all weekend and not moving a nano nano of any thing. That is why we got no rain and Louisiana is once again flooded. The cold front didn't move, the low didn't move and the pump just kept pumping Gulf water into land masses north of the coastal shoreline. And, according to the NWS, the next ten days will be below normal. For here, that is about 92 degrees F. In fact, I'm thinking that the triple digits might be done for season, now. But, should that not be the case, then by the law of averages, one or two more should foot the bill---hopefully!!
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| A beautiful hawk protecting his airspace. Be sure to click on the image so it opens up to the size where you can see the beautiful wing feathers. |
I'm just overly anxious for fall to arrive--the meteorological rather than the astronomical one which, then would be September 1 rather than the 20th or 21st or 22nd what ever it might be by the lunar cycle.
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| That's real live color change in a softwood tree. This spot where the chalk cliffs are located generally are the precursor to fall in many ways, including berry productions. |
