Goodbye Summer
The Autumnal Equinox
As much as I enjoy the temperate days of fall, the beautiful colors of the foliage, and all things pumpkin and spice, I am always sad to see summer end. Trees, flowers, and gardens are ending their annual cycle of growth. Birds have gathered into flocks and many are beginning their migration south.
Lake Ellyn in Early October
Shorter Days, Longer Nights
The Autumnal Equinox occurred today at 9:21am CDT in the northern hemisphere. This was the moment the sun crossed the equator from north to south and the beginning of later dawns and earlier sunsets.
For the next week or so, the sun rises due east and sets due west, which is what causes that glare when driving on east-west roads. As we move into the final months of the years, the northern hemisphere will tilt farther and farther away from the sun causing its rays to arrive at a steeper angle and giving us the short days of winter. This continues until December 21st when the sun will have reached it’s southernmost position: the winter solstice.
And then I begin to count the days until spring!
——————————–
© 2016 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Advertisements appearing on this site are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed or approved by me.
Under My Apple Tree 
I pay close attention to the equinoxes and solstices, too. They are important times of change. I’m not looking forward to the days growing even shorter, but I enjoy the shift. I’m looking forward to the leaves changing color and to cooler temperatures. Here on the Sassafras River at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay the birds are migrating and the sun is now setting behind the trees on the first point of land to the south/west. When I’m up at home in NJ, decorating for autumn and later for Winter Solstice helps me to celebrate the growing darkness. And then I’m counting the days until spring, too. 🙂
LikeLike
I start counting the days until spring when the clocks fall back to Standard Time. There’s something about the early darkness that stabs me.
Gorgeous photo, Leslie!
LikeLike
That is a stunning photo of Lake Ellyn! I also love the autumn, but feel a tinge of sadness at the end of the summer, too.
LikeLike
Beautiful photo.
LikeLike