Autumn is in the air and there are many signs that are a cause for celebration! No longer is green the "in" color, but when it comes to autumn, that's a good thing.
Autumnal Equinox
Autumn (or fall) is one of the four temperate seasons. The change in seasons from summer to autumn is often marked by the annual autumn equinox. An equinox occurs twice a year (spring and autumn) and happens when the sun crosses the equator so that day and night are almost the same length in time. After the equinox, the days start getting shorter and the nights start getting longer. Some people call this the first day of fall, though not quite accurate. This year the equinox fell on September 23, 2011. Watch A Year of Sunrises to see an animation that shows the terminator - the day/night line - over the course of one year.
Fall Colors
Chilly weather and rainy days are accompanied by the leaves on trees changing colors. Autumn is a beautiful time of year full of bright hues of yellow, orange and red. "Leaf lookers" make special trips to take in the breathtaking scenery before the leaves fall to the ground in preparation for the winter months. When the leaves are at their peak fall coloring, it's a good time to take a walk or hike in a park. In fact, Columbus was named by National Geographic as one of the "The Best Fall Trips 2011". There are many parks nearby at the Columbus Recreation & Parks Department and the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks System, or you can take a short drive to Hocking Hills State Park located just Southeast of Columbus.
"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." ~Albert Camus
Back-to-School
As summer comes to a close, many kids get back into the swing of school. Okay, so kids may not be jumping up for joy but just as the seasons change, so must plant-life, animal-life and human-life. And what better time to change and grown through learning than fall! Preschoolers can learn about fall while singing along with the Yo Gabba Gabba characters in the The Leaves Are Falling video. Elementary students can learn how Fall Leaves Can Help Promote Spring Color by using the leaves as compost or mulch at the base of trees and in gardens in their schoolyard and around their home. Teens and college students can learn The Science Behind Fall Colors in the video from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. There are many children's and family activities related to the fall season, including arts, crafts, recipes, books and more. Google is your friend! But, don't forget the fun kids have jumping in a big pile of freshly raked leaves.
Fall Festivals
Hayrides, pumpkin picking, apple cider, bon fires, farm markets, corn mazes... We can't talk about fall without mentioning all of the festivals that take place everywhere you look. The best place to find events in Ohio is at the State of Ohio Autumn Adventures '11 website. You can even get a Fall Color Report to find out the best time to enjoy the pretty fall colors and festivities!
While you're out and about, use all of your senses to find other signs of autumn. Smell the cool, crisp air... watch the plants began dispersing their seeds... see birds and animals gather food for the winter... feel the crunchiness of the leaves when they turn brown and fall to the ground... listen to the Sounds of Nature as crickets and katydids cry their last mating calls of the season. Autumn is like a second spring full of beautiful colors and the activies of nature.
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