FALL SPLENDOR — The Weekly Opine

A great fall combo; pumpkins and hay. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Good things still happen

About this time of year – several weeks after summer ends and weeks beyond the annual 90-degree-plus heatwave – much is good in the Midwest, at least when it comes to the weather. Far enough removed from the recent summer, we can stop lamenting what might have been. And the inevitable frigid temperatures, still two months away, remain (barely) beyond the horizon which allows us time to savor the splendor of fall.

Before going further about the wonders of fall, we should acknowledge the monstrous, devastating wildfires in California, Oregon, Washington State, and several other Western states. Similarly, it is appropriate to acknowledge the busiest hurricane season in decades, with the 25th named storm – Hurricane Delta – headed for the Gulf Coast. When it makes landfall it will be a record-breaking 10th hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland this season.

Climate change is every bit as real as the seasonal change from summer to fall.

All good, as long as this spider stays outdoors. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Baby blue

After the autumnal equinox, the sun’s position in the sky produces wonderfully clear days, the result being skies with a spectacular blue hue. This week, the Midwest has been the recipient of a string of days featuring mid-70-degree temperatures accompanied by nearly cloudless skies. Occasionally, a light brownish haze is visible, arriving via the jet stream from Western wildfires.

Lawns that in late-August were dried out from drought, turning an icky yellow-ish brown, have rebounded and are green again, thanks to mid-September rain. My two “burning” bushes (officially named euonymus alatus) have segued from green to red leaves, creating the perfect complement to resurgent green grass, and recently deployed orange pumpkins.

Without doubt springtime is marvelous, buoyed by warming temperatures and blooming, lush nature. The transition from winter to spring is incomparable, an annual rebirth that makes everyone rejoice. But the colors of fall, ah, the unbeatable colors of fall!

Burning bushes add a little spice this time of year. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Backyard zoo

Several years ago, I ventured to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, not having been to a zoo in at least two decades. After the visit ended, as I exited the zoo, I vowed not to go to any more zoos. It was annoying to see the animals appear, to my untrained eye, downbeat and sluggish.

My view is the animal’s lethargy was the result of being confined to small, unnatural spaces devoid of ample room to roam. Particularly, the lions and gorillas caught my attention. They looked bored, and who can blame them? Despite living just 3.5 miles from Brookfield Zoo, I have never been. Luckily, I have access to a bounty of some of nature’s “beasts” living in and around my yard.

Obviously, it does not remotely approach zoo status, but my backyard and the detention pond behind it support a nice mix of animals. Squirrels, rabbits, racoons, coyotes, frogs, possums, an occasional fox, an occasional deer, bats, and at least 15 species of birds, including hawks. There are insects galore; exotic-looking spiders, praying mantis, a variety of bees, monarch butterflies, large and teeny-tiny ants, crickets and many more insect varieties. And nasty looking but wonderful sounding cicadas.

Especially this year, it has been joyful to hang out on my patio, watching nature’s choreography and listening to sounds of life. Sweet chirping birds are the stars. Conversely, howling struggles in the wee hours of the morning, between coyotes and whatever they are clutching, are startling to hear. (The ferocity takes place only 10-15 yards from my bedroom window.)

Squirrels love this walnut tree. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Undoubtedly, the highlight this spring/summer was seeing the tenacity of a pregnant robin. She constructed a nest, only to have exceptionally strong winds blow the nest away. The robin rebuilt the nest just in time to lay her eggs. I felt a sense of pride when the babies were born. (Admittedly, I contributed nothing except an out-of-reach, high corner downspout location).

Pride turned into melancholy when the babies left permanently. This after watching them advance from bobbing their heads in anticipation of worms, to flopping in the nest testing their wings, then short flights, and finally flying the coop. Unexpectedly, a few weeks later another pregnant robin used the same nest to repeat the process. In total, there are at least eight bird nests scattered around my property.

What it is

Like many people, my summer plans were denied, never coming to fruition. Chasing tornadoes, riding Amtrak to San Francisco, and hanging out in D.C. during the peak of the presidential election were going to be among my 2020 pursuits. Hopefully, I can do those things, and much more, in 2021 and 2022.

In the meantime, peak fall colors are a couple of weeks away. There is still much to see.