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Friday, August 6, 2021

Harbingers of Fall

In reading on another (very lovely) blog, the blogess remarked that when she sees the purple wildflowers blooming, she knows autumn is around the corner. And I was struck by her observation. Yes, it's true: the blooming of the purple wildflowers is an early harbinger of fall! Oh, we have purples in spring, too; violets and Johnny-Jump-Ups and ajugas, but not the profusion of purples in the fall, mainly by dozens of types of Wild Purple Asters.

autumn blooms of wild purple asters


I have some in the front yard, that grew up from seed I scattered last year. Tiny finches love gathering on them and eating the seeds. These finches must be very light, as the stems on the plants are weak and droop easily. I have already thrown handfuls of seeds in the courtyard, for next year. Thousands of the asters are all along the Rio Grande. I gathered the seeds from there last year.

An early audible hint of autumn is to hear certain bird calls. When I lived in the Southeast, like clockwork would come the raucous call of the bluejay. They scream out those calls in early spring and then again when they announce autumn. Caw! Caw! When I lived in the Northwest, I would sometimes hear the honking of geese long before I saw them in their thousands, heading south. I only saw it a few times, but that was a highlight of my life.

When geese fly faster than usual, and quieter than usual, and higher than usual, it means that the coming winter will be very bad. 

I have not yet received one of my "feelings" about what the turn of the year will bring. I do think autumn will have a long "Indian Summer" this year, based on some caterpillar lore. I have seen several hawkmoth larvae much later than I should. What do they know that I don't? Nature may have told them that there will be something to eat weeks later than there normally would be.

However, those crab apples ripening so soon are sending another message! Or are they? Perhaps they are ripening so as to be able to be sown much farther than usual, as snows will be late? Or are they saying, "We must hurry; a bad winter awaits!"

To paraphrase St. Paul, "Who can know the mind of God?" 

Which reminds me! I am making a Nature Table for the lobby of the school again! I decided to make an "apple" table, with some crab apples from the Verboten Park, some little apple figurines and such that I have, and this thought (not original) printed out: "Anyone can count the seeds in an apple. But only God can count the apples in a seed."

Don't worry that I'll get in trouble with such a blantantly religious message. It is a private school!

Champie is welcoming autumn early, with a new sparkly collar. It is iridescent warm yellow, hard to tell in the photo. I made it out of a piece of a key lanyard.


I am still working on Sophie's collar. It is tapestry ribbon, with beaded parts. I just finished another little pillow-tuck, so her collar will be finished soon.

pin cushion pillow halloween fall autumn


I am always looking for lore and wise words: What are the subtle signs of fall in your area? 



30 comments :

  1. When the Rosebay Willowherb flowers slowly bloom closer and closer to the top of their stems, and I count the days of summer ending . . . When the Umbellifers - the Hogweeds and Wild Carrot and their like begin to brown and show their seed heads, when the Swallows start to line up on the power lines overhead, when the Rowan berries turn to orange. Apples ripening in the orchards and brambles in the hedgerows. I think the wheel has turned here and autumn is on our doorstep.

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    1. That has to be one of the loveliest paragraphs I have ever read about autumn coming. If you don't write books, you should!

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  2. The changes in the light, the birds are much more quiet. I think we will have an early fall, the Maple tree already has red leaves, it could be the heat. Beautiful handiwork you have done.

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    1. How could I forget the changes in light? That's right! It must be lovely to have maple trees in your area. I wonder, early fall or was it the crazy heat this year to turn them early?

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  3. OH, I know where you saw that first quote about the purple wildflowers!! Thank you for visiting me, and I am glad that my little thought stirred up still more wonderful thoughts from you. I do believe we are kindred spirits...we think along the same kinds of lines, especially when it comes to nature. I am excited that our big holly tree is loaded again this year with berries. Of course they are still green, but soon they will start turning orange and then bright red, and hopefully the Robins and Cedar Waxwings will pass through again on their way further south and have a good "supper" of them to help fuel their way! I did see our first Blue Jay yesterday too. They come and go, and yes they are noisy, but very pretty. Of course here in Florida the signs of fall are much more subtle and slower coming, but I can sense it and feel it just the same. The sunlight begins to change and shift and it becomes more golden. I love that you can do the nature table at your school, and also happy that you can share words of hope and encouragement about and from God. Your children there are blessed to be able to attend a school that is not ashamed to share the truth! Have a blessed weekend. I guess you'll be getting busier as you prepare for school to start soon? Take care and God bless.

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    1. I am always a little bit better of a person (I hope) after visiting your blogs. It's an oasis of beauty, godliness, and FUN in this fallen world! And oh yes, it was your interesting observation about the purple wildflowers that got me to thinking!

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  4. Hearing the geese is usually a late fall thing here. I see the trees slowly starting to lose their green to get in their fall colors. Also the light is different. I see it a bit lower in the window at a different angle in the afternoon.
    cathy

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    1. Yes, the light! And I had forgotten that the shade of green changes in the leaves, too. Nature is amazing.

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  5. Well, I just had a blog friend mention that she has noticed the change in light, and I also noticed that the other morning when going to the store. I've noticed the Blue Jays also coming around and making their loud calls. What a pretty vase of the Wild Purple Asters. An "apple table" at school sounds wonderful, Holly. Apples are a sure sign on Autumn. I saw some apple cinnamon tea and had to get some, so I can have a bit of Fall early. Oh, I am wondering what Winter will be like here too, Holly, as it gets so very cold and snows. Your charming posts always bring a smile to my face, and the pillows you make warms my heart. : )

    ~Sheri

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    1. The tea sounds wonderful! Warm and fragrant, and maybe you will have a cup with those wonderful cookies you bake! I wonder what your winter will be like, too, and I am going to be glued to your posts as you blog about it!

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  6. we have no fall, the subtle signs would be we go from 90's to 80' in November. it has been so long since i lived where there was a fall i can't remember what they were
    the flowers are gorgeous.. I did see about 100 crows in the Walmart Parking lot, that is a not so subtle sign that someone through a bag of food out in he parking lot

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    1. Ha ha, when I lived in Destin, yes, the signs were indeed subtle. Of course, that's a lot farther north in Florida than where you are, I think. Fall was always my favorite season there -- and everywhere.

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  7. Here in northern Ohio the crickets have been loudly chirping for weeks. I've seen a couple little grasshoppers...and the spiderwebs are everywhere. Oh, how I hate them. And like Acorn Hollow mentioned, the angle of the sun is changing...and it is getting dark so much earlier. I am not a fan of early darkness!

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    1. Gosh, I forgot about the crickets, are I don't believe there are any here. But I remember them now! I didn't like early darkness, either, until I moved to the desert. Now I like it because the blazing sun is not as bad.

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  8. Our Autumn is later than most experience. But, I find that the air is drier...which I welcome. And animal activities get busier preparing for winter.

    Your observations are great. And gave me an education on some. Well done

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    1. I can't wait to see more of your bird and nature pictures in the fall. But all of your photos are fabulous.

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  9. Hello Dear Holly.... Yes, I am back. Blogger finally messaged me saying they had fixed my "disappeared" blog reading list for which I will be eternally grateful. Now playing a bit of catch-up. You must have read my mind as a post about the harbingers of autumn keeps tumbling through my mind....you beat me to it. Ahh, yes....although we are only in the first week of August (typically in what we call "high summer" or the "dog days of summer") it hardly feels it...and everything I see around me bespeaks an early arrival of fall. There are leaves turning here...high and hidden as if too shy to show their early colors...I smell the corn tasseling in the fields....Dusk brings with it a thick mist that gathers in the lowlands and I have heard the crickets sing...their melodic chirring is always a sign that Summer is preparing to take her leave. I love autumn best of all the seasons, but feel cheated by summer this year....and I fear the winter to come will be a harsh one...the signs are strong...but that's a whole other topic LOL. ~Robin~

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    1. Blog it, Robin! Blog about your signs of autumn and your early winter signs! I can't wait for your posts. You have a gift with words.

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  10. The first golden orb-weaver has laid her claim on a corner of the shanty porch where she weaves her web each evening and takes it down each morning. That's a sure sign that fall is knocking on our door. And, the hummingbirds are flocking en masse to the feeders from dawn to dusk. Their time here in the land of their birth draws short. That's a little sad, I think. Fall, as wonderful as it is, has always made me feel this way. This is another great post! Yay!

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    1. Oh yes, you capture it beautifully, the bittersweet feeling of autumn. And I would surely like to see the golden orb-weaver make her web during my time on this earth. The clockwork of nature is just amazing.

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  11. In Michigan here it is when the blackbirds gather together. Have not seen it yet, so maybe we still have some time. What beautiful purple wildflowers. In the Summer I love the wild chicory as it is the most bluest blue I have seen in a flower. You will see it amongst the white of the wild carrot, or others call it Queen Annes Lace. Janice

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    1. I just learned something -- I had no idea wild carrot and Queen Annes Lace were the same! I love Queen Annes Lace! And I had completely forgotten about wild chicory being so blue! I know some don't like them, but I love blackbirds. They are so sassy.

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  12. I love Fall and I hope we have a long Indian Summer. I notice lots of dead leaves on the ground in the park but it's due to the drought and the heat. After 50 some days without rain we finally got some today. Our area has sandy soil so it will be absorbed and gone in no time but it will help. Who knows? Maybe we'll get more. I was very cozy on the porch with a soft throw over my lap, just like an old granny. O WAIT, I am an old granny.
    I meant to answer a question you asked. I'm sorry I took so long. My Morning Glories look like Grandpa Ott and may well be but if I remember correctly I bought a pack of mixed colours. Most of them are the same royal-purple colour.

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    1. From one drought area (our poor desert is also in a drought) to another, I am so happy to hear you got rain. May more come, in proper amounts! I cant' believe how loaded with blooms your Morning Glory is.

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  13. We are in FULL summer mode here in Florida...no signs of change yet. The grasses are going to seed, that's about it! lol Love the purple blooms and I can't wait to decorate some with Fall colors. I've added some things to my home that will make the Fall colors even prettier. Happy Sunday!

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    1. Summer lasts soooo long in Florida! I can remember pets and people alike just running and jumping on the few days autumn air would push in from up north.

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  14. Yesterday, before reading your lovely post today, I went on a long walk and took a lot of pictures that show that fall approaches here in Bavaria, and intend to show some on my blog.
    Every year I am so happy that - wherever I live(d), Hildesheim, Hamburg, Berlin - the geese flew directly over "my" house - twice a year, and yes, I hear them coming first, run to fetch my camera or cellphone to document it (by little dots in the sky :-)
    I never heard their connection with foretelling winter hardship - really interesting!

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  15. Hello,
    I love purple asters, I have them in my garden too.
    I enjoy lore too. Please continue to share. :-)
    Happy New Week!
    Carla

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  16. I know I'm late again, but the idea that I wouldn't eventually visit shouldn't worry you. I will make it eventually, even if I have to visit in my sleep.

    The only thing that actually signals autumn to me is when one morning I walk out and it actually FEELS like autumn. It's hard to explain. It has nothing to do with temperature or time of day. There's a different feeling in the air. Maybe it's a scent, or maybe it's the air itself, but it just feels different and I know autumn has arrived. However, I have nothing that indicates autumn is about to arrive, except possibly my wild sunflowers that bloom in late August or early September. Enjoyed your harbinger of autumn, though.

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  17. The asters are not blooming yet, they usually do in September. It was cold like in Autumn , but tomorrow Summer comes back…so strange!

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