....is today, September 22. This is an astronomical event. Daylight and night are approximately equal in length. The name ‘equinox’ comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night). Because of the tilt of our planet on its axis as it revolves around the sun, we Northern hemisphereans have a little more distance from the sun for the next six months. We had mid-March until now of our half tilting more towards the sun...giving us long daylight, shorter nights, more heat. Now we approach winter.
Today is a good day for calibrating your your sundial. At noon the sun will be almost directly overhead. If we lived on the equator it would be exactly overhead.
Mid September (and early October)is also a good time to...
Over-seed cool-season turf (Fescue lawns).
Begin some garden clean up by deadheading and cutting back any perennials that are looking withered.
Applying pre-emergent herbicides to put a dent in winter annual weeds.
Plant crocuses and daffodil bulbs.
Save seeds from your vegetables and annuals.
And enjoy a few minutes of the evening before nightfall.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Rainy Day Colors
It sure has been a lovely week, all this slow peaceful rain. More like November weather than September. But it's come at a good time, we were getting a little dry. I still like to look out the windows at the shining leaves and emergence of fall colors. We will be coming in to another beautiful time of year.
The dogwoods and Japanese maples are starting to turn to their red decor, even saw a little dose of red in a burning bush. Sedums, Autumn Joy are at their best mild pink, and will eventually go to the burgundy/brick color of fall. Salvias in blues and plum colors look great in the rain.
The dogwoods and Japanese maples are starting to turn to their red decor, even saw a little dose of red in a burning bush. Sedums, Autumn Joy are at their best mild pink, and will eventually go to the burgundy/brick color of fall. Salvias in blues and plum colors look great in the rain.
Here's a fading Celandine poppy (wood poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum) behind some annual Perilla and a Quercifolia. The hackberry leaf snuck in for a cameo. BTW here are some more lovely poppy images:
http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/flowers/Stylophorum/Stylophorum.htm
Click on this pic to see the rain droplets on the needles.I don't mind a few consecutive days of rain but it could get old after awhile. The cats and I are getting antsy to get out side and play.
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