The summer light wanes, sending an ancient signal to all beings in the northern hemisphere that it is time for each one in their own way to prepare for the colder, darker season that looms ahead. Leaves are starting to color and birds are beginning to migrate. All the creatures that will be staying are getting ready in their time-honored fashion. Early September, though, in the northeast almost deserves to be its own season – I suggest Summerfall. Summer-like, but not quite summer anymore, with many nights being cooler, yet the days can still be hot, it doesn’t exactly feel like fall. It is a time of subtle transition, as autumn gradually creeps up on us. As I write this, it is 68 degrees at 11pm, the windows are wide open and I’m enjoying the “Cricket-chorus” immensely. The Katydids are “Katydidit-ing” up a storm and the Crickets sound like a hundred billion little bells loudly, madly ringing for all they’re worth. This is very enjoyable weather but hardly unusual in the northeast. Just because the calendar (and the school year) says Fall does not mean it is so. It still feels like Summer. Even as a kid in Maine, I remember starting the school-year going to school with a jacket on, but wearing it around my waist coming home in the September heat. If most of the hardwoods (Ashes, Beeches, Birches, Black Walnuts, Black Cherry, Elm, Hickories, Maples, Oaks, Sycamores, etc.) are thick with leaf, even as their branch-tips start to take a golden turn, it should be a colorful season. Gold seems to be the theme for early fall in our woods, as well as in our fields. We have some problems in the matter, though. Unfortunately, most of our White Ashes are dead or dying from the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), which will account for less of their bright yellow leaves and our Maples have been suffering from Maple Rust, which means less of their glorious red in the palette.
THE CORN MOON – Slowly, but inexorably, the seasons cycle through, as illustrated by the changing names of the moons, which all show seasonal change. Septembers Full Moon is variously known as: the Hunting Moon (Lenape); Nut Moon (Eastern Band of the Cherokee); Falling Leaf Moon (Mahican); the Moose Moon; and widely as the Corn Moon, because it is the time for harvesting corn.
AUTUMNAL EQUINOX – Several years ago my friend Glenn and I were hiking in these hills when we noticed that there were many cairns scattered throughout the woods around us, seemingly at random. We were curious and started exploring and found many more not visible from the trail. I estimated that there were at least 200 small cairns in that cairn-field. What really got our attention was when we found an alignment of 8 or 9 of them and putting a compass down we were amazed to see that the compass – like the alignment – pointed perfectly east – west. That was great in itself, but then we realized that the date was September 21- the date of the Autumnal Equinox – when the alignment we discovered was perfectly aligned to illustrate this ancient event. How fortunate we were in our timing! It was important for all Indigenous peoples to mark this equinox: to know exactly how long ‘til the Winter Solstice; with day and night being equal this is a time to seek balance between our inner world and that around us. It certainly is a time to celebrate the harvest, as well – the reaping of the fruits of the season past. This also is when we have to start planning for the cold time ahead. If the Winter Solstice is the coldest and darkest time of the year – the yearly “midnight” as it were – then perhaps the Spring Equinox is the morning of the year, with promises of green life ahead. Continuing that analogy then the Summer Solstice and Midsummer Day are the high noon, the “peak of life”, with the approaching Fall Equinox representing (being?) the evening of the year, with winter on its way.
AUTUMNAL FAUNA – As the light gradually changes, Fall is gently, subtly triggered, different animals responding in different ways. Some creatures like Black Bear and Woodchucks start to plan for a long winter’s nap by fattening up a bit (though the ‘Chucks seem plenty fat already). Another adaptation is migration. The Hummingbirds will be doing it shortly, actually gaining a whole gram or so of weight to fuel that powerful little furnace of theirs to help take them all the way down the Appalachians, then an intrepid 500-mile non-stop dash across the Gulf of Mexico to their wintering grounds in the Yucatán. The Monarchs are preparing to leave on their own long journey to sunnier climes. I know they’re threatened both at home and here, but since there were a few more this year, I’d love to think their population will bounce back (visit www.journeynorth.org for more on all migrators and www.spiritofbutterflies.com for more on Monarchs and local efforts to help them). Many of the incredible Dragonflies have gone already, leaving their eggs in freshwater to hatch as larvae next year. Now mainly the huge (for dragonflies) and indomitable Green Darner still zips around, hawking hapless small insects (and some not so small) from midair. Local Bald Eagles are still feeding on fish in local ponds and reservoirs. Our Black- and Turkey Vulture friends will stick around to haunt us at least through the fall (and do their bit as part of the roadside Cleanup Crew, along with Crows and Ravens). They all have fledglings in various states of growth and maturity.
FALL FLORA – The meadows and fields have transitioned from the multitude of many-hued summer flowers to be dominated now by bright yellow Goldenrods. These beauties get a bad rap when their pollen, in fact, is not an allergen (grains are too big and heavy for the wind), and are pollinated by birds and insects rather than the wind, which does pollinate the dark brown, highly-allergenic Ragweed (easily missed and not as photogenic). The Goldenrods serve a valuable function now by providing nectar to migrating butterflies, since most of the flowers of summer are gone. It is an important plant for our meadows because it feeds many of our small birds that don’t migrate, as well. The various mice, Moles and Voles that have thrived in the relative safety of the meadows Goldenrods will, in turn, feed our wintering Coyotes, Foxes, Hawks and Owls. Together with numerous Asters, they will become temporary home to many different species of caterpillars that birds migrating from further north will relish. Milkweed will be seeding shortly and I always encourage people to spread their silky parachute-like seeds – but please wait ‘til the seed-pods are fully ready, when they open on their own. The golden meadows are so richly alive in the early fall sunshine. Besides the Monarchs gently sashaying about, the meadows thrive now with the subtle thrum of myriad busy bees – the veritable hum of Life itself. The Great Spangled Fritillaries are still nectaring (above, on a Coneflower), and Cabbage White butterflies dance wildly up and down across the flowers, swirling specks of white light dancing together, then apart. The stalks of dead and dying Beebalm twitch with the otherwise hidden passing of a small rodent.
The Great Wheel of the Seasons turns as the Cycle of Life inexorably continues. We humans have our own rhythms in the matter. Most of us will hunker down, get out the warm clothing, beef up the wood-pile, tighten up the windows, etc., and some will migrate to warmer climes. I like to point this out to show that despite all of our technology, we still respond – whether we know it or not – to the rhythms of the natural world around us. A glorious Fall is upon us in the southeast Catskills. Let’s make the most of it – “make hay while the sun shines”.
Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement. Have an enjoyable and Safe Fall (?), “Ranger” Dave Holden / (845)594-4863 / woodstocktrails@gmail.com / Dave Holden on Facebook / rangerdaveholden on Instagram / woodstocknytrails.com
Join the family! 
