“I hear the fall crickets already,” my grandmother would say, when fall was just around the corner. The “fall crickets” were actually katydids, but they are related to crickets. They often begin singing as early as the third week of July. They sing at night for several months, sometimes as late as early November if the weather is warm. It’s a male chorus for the purpose of attracting females. Katydids are one of the first signs of fall for me as well.
Come with me on another nature outing. Why is “fall” a name for this lovely season? What falls in the fall?
One thing is the temperature. Are you ready for a break from the summer heat? We who live in the northern temperate latitudes definitely start experiencing cooler temperatures, especially at night.
This is because the sun is shining directly over the equator again due to the earth’s tilt as it revolves around the sun every year. Summer rays hit 30° north of the equator on the Tropic of Cancer. So it makes sense, doesn’t it. More direct rays produce hotter temperatures; less direct rays bring cooler temperatures.
The sun “falls” behind the western horizon earlier than in summer; it rises over the eastern mountains later in the mornings, giving us fewer hours of daylight and cooler temperatures as well.It’s not unheard of for us to have some snowfall in early November.
Let’s walk out this logging road to look for fall treasures. You’re right; nuts are falling from the trees, to the delight of various wildlife species. Acorns, which provide food for deer, bears, turkeys, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, mice, and some birds, begin falling in September and reach peak drop in October.
White oak acorns seem to be a favorite. They aren’t as bitter as some of the other oaks, such as red, black, and scarlet. It is easier to get to the meat inside because of their thin shells. See, here are some under this tree. Notice how thin the shell is.
Hickory nuts are a favorite of squirrels. See the empty nut hulls lying over there on the ground? Squirrels have already stored some in their pantries for winter. Here are some empty shells that have been chewed open to get a snack. Yes, there are a few here the squirrels haven’t gathered yet. Pick some up to take along, if you like.
Red hickory has thinner shells, making it possible for deer, rodents, and turkeys to eat them as well.
“What’s that cracking, crunching sound I hear?”
A black bear just might be cracking nuts up on a hickory limb. Don’t worry, they are shy and usually afraid of people. Yes, there he is! That’s likely the smart bear. He has figured out how to pull the cable on my wildlife feeder to shake corn out onto the ground. He probably weighs only about one hundred pounds. Let’s back off and let him eat. He needs to fatten up before hibernating for the winter.
While walnuts definitely are harder to crack with their thicker shells, squirrels have very sharp teeth and have no problem getting out the meat inside. I wouldn’t want one to bite me, with teeth like that!
People also go gathering nuts. Your mother likely uses them in her baking. Nuts are very nutritious, providing protein, magnesium, fats, fiber, etc. to your diet. But aren’t you glad you don’t have to eat enough to make it through the winter, and that you have more variety in your diet?
Here in West Virginia we are blessed to not have to travel as far as many tourists do to see the colorful woodlands and mountainsides. The yellows are hickory, ash, and birch; oranges to reds are maples; reds to purple are oaks and dogwood. With a few browns and evergreens in the mix, the mountains become a masterpiece.
Cooler temperatures and less sunlight cause the green coloring from chlorophyll to scatter, showing up the brilliant fall colors. A protective layer is formed between the leaves and branches, and then the leaves fall to the ground. Be sure to pick up some to take along. If you press and wax them with an iron and waxed paper, they won’t crinkle up and will make beautiful fall decorations.
I hear a cricket. I suspect he is under this leaf. These little black crickets can sneak into your house and school, making a nuisance of themselves if you’re trying to sleep or study. They carry their instruments with them, making music by rubbing their wings together. One wing has a serrated edge, while the other is used as a scraper. They sing to attract a mate, to defend their territory, and for social interaction.
Velvet “falls” from the antlers of whitetail bucks…well, they help it fall by rubbing it off on trees and bushes. This usually happens during the last week of August and the first week of September. Yes, you’re right, there is some velvet hanging on this little maple sapling!
Migratory birds “fall” from higher to lower latitudes to take advantage of warmer temperatures in the winter. You may want to travel to our Dolly Sods Wilderness Area where there is a yearly camp, mostly run by volunteers, for the purpose of catching migratory birds. They record information such as species, weight, and health. They then put a band on the bird’s leg and release the birds to continue flying south. The majority of birds they catch in their nets are warblers.
Some workers are there just enjoying the scenery and observing the sky to count the number of hawks flying high overhead to their winter homes.
While there, be sure to walk out into the bogs with buckets to pick cranberries. These bright red nutritious berries begin ripening in September.
No, that’s not a volleyball; it’s a giant puffball mushroom. Yes, mushrooms emerge in the fall as well as spring and summer. They add colors of white, red, orange, yellows, and browns to the forest floor. Some are edible; many are poisonous. It takes an expert to know the difference.
Squirrels have been known to store mushrooms high in trees, apparently for food in the winter. Interestingly, their stomachs are able to tolerate the toxins of even poisonous ones. But don’t you take any chances eating a mushroom you’re not sure about.
Let’s leave the woods now and walk back to the road along the pasture to look for some fall wildflowers.
See this lacy-headed white flower with leaves similar to carrots? It’s Queen Anne’s lace, or wild carrot; I like the royal name better. When I was a child, I used to gather the flowers and put them into cups of water with a few drops of food coloring. The stems sucked up the water, changing the flowers’ color to red, blue, yellow, or whatever dye I used. Yes, the flower head is rather large. They are attractive in wildflower bouquets and survive longer than many cut flowers.
Over there is a black-eyed Susan. It’s quite showy, with ten to twenty bright yellow rays around a dark brown center. The leaves and stems are covered with bristly hairs.
Those pretty purple flowers are asters. Notice they have lots of rays around their centers. They come in a variety of colors—white, pink, red, and purple like the ones you see here. Some types grow up to 6 feet (2 m) tall.
That bright yellow flower waving at us is tall goldenrod. There are many species (over 100) of goldenrod. Often you can find bees and butterflies enjoying nectar from this late-blooming flower. Some allergy sufferers blame goldenrod for their problems. I’ve read that ragweed is likely the culprit, as it’s often growing near where goldenrod is found.
Do you know what this is? See the pretty little green chrysalis hanging from this milkweed plant? It has a few gold spots and a band of gold near the top. Yes, it’s a monarch going through its final stage of metamorphosis in becoming a butterfly. Then he’ll take to the air and likely fly to Mexico for the winter. There most of the eastern monarchs rest together, adorning the trees. The southern tip of Florida is another place a few eastern monarchs will overwinter, while the California coast is where some western ones will winter.
For a fun early fall project, look under milkweed leaves to collect caterpillars and leaves with tiny white eggs on them. Place them in a jar with holes in the lid for air. Add leaves frequently, as the caterpillars are ravenous, eating day and night. Then you can watch them spin their chrysalides and turn into butterflies. If you collect a number of them, put them into a larger net container to give them more room. Once they turn into butterflies, be sure to turn them loose to join their friends on their southern journey.
How can a butterfly with such fragile wings fly over 1,000 miles and back again? Our marvelous Creator is the only One who could instill in them the instinct to accomplish this.
No wonder the Psalmist said, “O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.”