This fine morning the cool crisp air of change is moving into the Northfield area. Yesterday warm sticky air gave us another brief taste of summer, but change is definitely in the air.
The longest day of the year was 76 days ago, and today we will have approximately 2 hours and 24 minutes less daylight than when summer began. Here and there a hint of fall color can be detected, the children are back in school, Labor Day and the State Fair have passed and football teams are battling for the top spot in their leagues.
The late spring means that September will be a very important time for the corn and soybeans to complete the maturation process that fills the seeds with the starch, sugar, protein and oils that are an important part of how we produce food. Local truck farmers have been harvesting and selling wholesome fruits and vegetables for almost three months now, and will be bringing their fall harvest to market all the way to Thanksgiving, and perhaps a little longer if winter comes late this year.
Trees, shrubs and perennials are gradually shifting from producing new growth to storing energy in stems and roots. This stored energy will provide the fuel for an explosion of new growth next spring when the whole web of life reawakens.
When you see a leaf turn from green to yellow or orange or red, it means that the left has done its job, has shut down its photosynthesis and as the green chlorophyll disappears from each leaf the underlying colors of various sugars, starches and pigments are revealed.
All these things are sure signs that the seasons are changing and that it’s a good time to make the most of the pleasant autumn days that precede our rugged winter.
While change is definitely in the air, keep in mind that September, October and November offer some of the best opportunities of the year for doing outdoor projects. Mild temperatures can make for great working conditions and successful landscaping projects are carried out all the way to Thanksgiving Day, and sometimes even later if cold weather stays away.
All this means that we have at least 70 to 80 days to be enjoying activities and doing projects in our yards and gardens, landscapes and fields. When you feel that hint of change in the air, start making a list of everything you want to get done this fall and come see us if part of your list includes plant materials or design/build landscaping. We’d be pleased to be a part of your journey of change.
