Autumnal Equinox began this morning................

 

Simultaneously, of  course, the Vernal (Spring) Equinox occurs in the southern hemisphere, as people begin their springtime season and as those people in the Northern Hemisphere begin their fall quarter of the year. Autumnul Equinox 2012 begins Saturday, September 22, marking the first official day of fall, at 10:40 a.m.ET this morning. the tilted earth revolves around to where the sun shines directly on the equator, and the hours of  daylight and dark are equal (12 hours each). The term "Equinox" has its origins in Latin, meaning 'equal night'. After today, we will have fewer hours of daylight and longer evenings. Traditionally peace and environmental activists call on people everywhere to celebrate the autumnal equinox by hugging a tree. Hugging trees not only relieves stress but also takes back the title "tree hugger" from those who would make it a term of ridicule and it also reminds people of the importance of trees to the environment.
 

Today is the first official day of autumn, which probably doesn't mean much to those living in the south where temperatures are still hitting the 90's. On the Autumnal Equinox, the length of day and night is nearly, but not exactly, equal, according to TimeandDate.com.

 

The Autumnal Equinox is also known as:Alban Elfed, Autumn Equinox, Fall Equinox, Cornucopia, Feast of Avilon, Festival of Dionysus, Harvest Home, Harvest Tide, Mabon, Night of the Hunter, Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, and the first day of autumn.

So there you have it - today is the first day of autumn and for those of us living in Northern parts of the United States. We have already started getting a chill in the air in the evenings, it is becoming dark earlier each evening and the leaves are changing colors and falling from the trees.

For those readers who live in the warmer climates you should try to visit the Northern states because the foliage is beautiful and it is the best time of the year here.

 

Go on out there and hug a tree today – I dare you!
peacesojourner

 

Where Do Leaves Get Their Autumn Colors?

These photos were taken recently while crossing the bridge that leads to the Aquarium in Niagara Falls, New York.

If you live in one of those parts of the world where Nature has one last fling before settling down into winter's sleep consider yourself lucky. In those wondrous places, as days shorten and temperatures become crisp, the quiet green palette of summer foliage is transformed into the vivid autumn palette of reds, orange, gold, and brown before the leaves fall off the trees. On special years, the colors are truly breathtaking.

Evergreens-pines, spruces, cedars, firs, are able to survive winter because they have toughened up. Their needle or scale like foliage is covered with a heavy wax coating and the fluid inside their cells contains substances that resist freezing. Thus the foliage of evergreens can safely withstand all but the severest winter conditions, such as those in the Arctic. Evergreen needles survive for some years but eventually fall because of old age.

I lived for several years in the New England states and now I am in Western New York. Every autumn I have been able to revel in the beauty of the fall colors. The mixture of red, purple, orange and yellow is the result of chemical processes that take place in the tree as the seasons change from summer to winter.

During spring and summer the leaves have served as factories where most of the foods necessary for the tree's growth are manufactured. This food-making process takes place in the leaf in numerous cells containing chlorophyll, which gives the leaf its green color. This extraordinary chemical absorbs from sunlight the energy that is used in transforming carbon dioxide and water to carbohydrates, such as sugars and starch.

Certain colors of leaves are characteristic of particular species of trees.

-Oaks turn red, brown, or russet.

-Hickories turn golden bronze.

-Beech turns light tan.

-Red maple turns brilliant scarlet.

-Sugar maple turns orange-red.

-Black maple turns glowing yellow.

-Aspen, birch, and yellow poplar turn golden yellow.

Leaf color is most spectacular when the right combination of factors is present. Scientists don't fully understand all of the complicated interactions that cause the best display of leaf color, but they do know that leaf pigments, length of night, the type of tree, genetic variation, and the weather all play a role.

Where Do Leaves Get Their Autumn Colors?

Tree and plant leaves contain pigments that give them their color. Three pigments are involved in fall color:

· Chlorophyll — gives leaves their green color.

· Carotenoids — provide the yellow, orange, and brown colors

· Anthocyanins — give the red and purple colors.

In contrast to the other two pigments, anthocyanins are produced in the autumn, in response to bright light and excess plant sugars in the leaf cells.

During the growing season, most tree leaves are green because they are full of chlorophyll that enables them to manufacture their own food. As the days grow shorter in the fall, chlorophyll production slows down and eventually stops. The carotenoids and anthocyanins that are present in the leaf then become visible.

Fallen leaves are not wasted; they decompose and restock the soil with nutrients. The rich layer of decomposing leaves protects the roots of other plants on the forest floor and absorbs and holds rainfall. Imitating nature by mulching with shredded leaves provides similar benefits for trees and shrubs in the home landscape.

Today the temperature was in the 60's - very unusual for this time of year. I spent time working in the Peace Garden while enjoying the sunshine and the beautiful foliage and thought I would share it with you today.

photos by peacesojourner

Another Glimpse of Autumn

this season
Jean Rodenbough

sun-filled trees, light filtering through leaves
while we walk along the walled path
where, who was it, once took this way
full of thoughts that wilted
for lack of witness

the dog and I make our autumn way
on fallen leaves in air tinted
by heat of fading summer—warmth
follows us into shaded shelters
along the path that opens in shadow,
woods too long in waiting for the cool

who was here before us? when light
urged the dark red earth to its seasons
before our present course—
no signs of former travelers, no hint of history,
only this moment:
the astonishing awareness of color
the day opening into memories

Photo by Stephanie Schmidt, OSB

Where Did Pumpkins Originate?

As we start to feel the coldness in the air we

can still see the wonderful colors of Autumn around us.

Recently there were fields and fields of colorful

pumpkins. These photos show their beauty.

Here are some interesting Pumpkin facts:

Pumpkins originated in Central America.

The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,140 pounds.

The name pumpkin originated from "pepon" – the Greek word for "large melon."

Pumpkins are 90 percent water.

Pumpkins are fruit.

Total U.S. pumpkin production in 2010 in major pumpkin producing states was valued at $142 million.

The top pumpkin production states are Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California.

Around 90 to 95% of the processed pumpkins in the United States are grown in Illinois.

Pumpkin seeds can be roasted as a snack.

Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.

Pumpkins are used for feed for animals.

Pumpkin flowers are edible.

Pumpkins are used to make soups, pies and breads.

Pumpkins are members of the vine crops family called cucurbits.

Eighty percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October.

Native Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine.

Enjoying the Autumn Season - 'Trees'

TREES

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

A sergeant in the U.S. Infantry who was killed at the Second Battle

of the Marne in 1918 at the age of 31

*****

It was September when I first arrived in the United States. We visited in Detroit, Michigan for about a week and then we drove from Detroit to California. It was Autumn and my strongest memories of our travels are when we drove through Colorado. The trees were so beautiful and the landscape was breathtaking.

Here we are in the Autumn season again and now I live in Western New York. As I travel around the community I am in awe at the incredible colors of the foliage.

If you live in an area that does not have the four seasons I urge you to try to travel to New England or New York state, especially along Route 20.

Yes, as I have confessed before on this blog,

I am proud to declare that I am definitely a tree hugger.

peacesojourner

How to Cook Acorn Squash

Here is a seasonal vegetable that is delicious and so easy to prepare.

Baked Acorn Squash

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

1 medium acorn squash, halved and seeded

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Baking pan

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 2:

Use a paring knife to score the insides of each half several times.

Add 1/4 inch of water to the bottom of the baking pan.

Step 3:

Coat the inside of the two halves of squash with 1/2 tablespoon butter

and 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Place each half into the baking pan, flesh side UP.

Step 4:

Bake squash for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until squash is soft and tops are browned. Spoon sauce which has not been absorbed over exposed areas.

Slice and enjoy!

This is a great substitute for potatoes with a meal!


Acorn squash contains magnesium, potassium, vitamins C and A, and calcium.


An entire acorn squash only contains 172 calories!


Alone, a whole acorn squash contains less than 1 mg of fat.


Acorn squash is at it's peak in fall through winter, but can usually be found in the grocery store year round.


Store an acorn squash in the refrigerator for up to a week when placed in a paper bag

October - a poem

October

Books litter the bed,

leaves the lawn. It

lightly rains. Fall has

come: unpatterned, in

the shedding leaves.

The maple trees ripen. Apples

come home crisp in bags.

This pear tastes good.

It rains lightly on the

random leaf patterns.

The nimbus is spread

above our island. Rain

lightly patters on un-

shed leaves. The books

of fall litter the bed

— James Schuyler (1923-1991)

photo by peacesojourneripen. Apples

on un- shed leaves. The bo