On September 22 at 8:05 p.m., the sun’s declination became zero degrees at the moment it crossed from the northern to the southern hemisphere. The summer season officially ended, and we are now into autumn (or fall; Americans prefer “fall” and the British prefer the word “autumn” to describe this season between summer and winter). Though the days are getting shorter and days and nights are getting cooler, there is still a lot to see outdoors.

There are many wild plants that are late bloomers with flowers only seen during late summer into early fall. A good example of this is goldenrod. Many people consider goldenrod a weed, but if you find a patch of it, keep an eye on it and see how many insects it attracts. Goldenrod is a valuable source of food for pollinators, including the monarch butterfly, many of which are migrating south this time of year. 

Insects can still be found prior to a killing frost, and species such as mantids and walking sticks are fully grown now, making for a bigger target to spot. There’s even a species of dragonfly that only appears in late summer into the fall, and is aptly named the autumn meadowhawk. The insects might be visible through October if it’s a mild fall.

By the time this column goes to press, the trees should be near their peak fall colors. Migrating geese will be heard overhead, but other bird species will arrive from points north to spend the winter in our area. This is the time to see flora and fauna in transition from the warm days of summer to the cold of winter.