Indian Summer? Not Quite

Unless you live in Arizona or Hawaii, you have had to adjust to turning the clocks back an hour last weekend. Being a lover of of the sun, this time of year is particularly hard for me. Fortunately, the unseasonable warm weather we have been experiencing made the time change a bit more tolerable. From Sunday on, every day this week was warmer and sunnier than the one before. The high on Thursday was 74 degrees, just one degree shy of the record!

Even though I love the warmth - not having to turn on the heat, and being able to walk outside without a jacket, I can't help but feel a little concerned as to the impacts on Nature from a changing climate. She was definitely confused this week with crickets chirping again and ticks out in full  force. Thursday morning I found these fresh mushrooms growing on the side of the road - something typically seen in late summer or early fall instead of November.

However, some animal enjoyed this unseasonable treat, as yesterday, this was all that was left of one mushroom.

Regardless of the temperature, most of the summer migrant birds have left, and our winter friends have returned. Dark-eye Juncos and Tufted Titmice and Nuthatches are once again plentiful at the feeder. I was surprised on Sunday, though, to see several bluebirds in our front yard. I am told that some bluebirds do over-winter in New Hampshire, but this was the first time that I have seen them during this time of year.

Bluebirds sitting in the tree tops this week.

Although the weather has felt like summer, the foliage, or lack thereof, on the trees brings a reality check that it is November. Most of our maple trees are bare, and the deep reds, yellows and bronzes of the oak and beech trees, are fading to brown. However, you can still catch some interesting variety, particularly in the morning and late afternoon sunlight. 

 

Although the fall foliage of maple trees seem to be what leaf peepers in New England admire most, the oak trees this year were equally as impressive. According to the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, there are seven native species of oak trees in New Hampshire. Within a span of a few hundred yards on our street, I took a picture of four different varieties, all with very different coloring.

Finally, I thought I would share a photo of our catalpa tree. It's leaves will be one of the last to fall, and this tree that creates awe when in bloom in the summer, is  certainly not going to win any beauty contests this time of year. 

Catalpa - notice the bean pods on some of the brances

Getting back to the title of this blog - based upon the fact that it is November, and the fact that we have already experienced several mornings below freezing, I would have called this past week Indian Summer. However, according to the Old Farmers Almanac, Indian Summer must occur after November 11th, or St. Martin's Day. Even so, these past few days have seemed like an extension of summer for which I am grateful.

October 30th Morning Moon