No 30's here yet, but lows in the 40's end of this week... 30's won't be far behind. Normally it's end of October before we fire-up also, but, the way this summer as been so cool, it wouldn't surprise me if I'm lightin' the firebox this month.
Everything has an early fall look to it... more like mid-to-late September 'round here. The undergrowth in the woodlot has already thinned noticeably, I can see much further in than I could just a week ago. The grasses in the ditches are all headed-out, and some of the oaks have dropped near half their leaves. Even the river "looks" cold... and I hear the Walleyes have started hitting already. There is something strange, or weird about it though... (some) oaks are droppin' leaves at an increasing rate, yet I haven't seen a single acorn on the ground.... and although the hard maples are still holding on to their leaves, I ain't seeing' any pods. The oak leaves ain't really "changing", they're just shriveling-up and falling, still sort'a greenish-brown in color... almost like they "know" there ain't time for a lazy shut-down, or the normal change of color, and such. Same with the squirrels and chipmunks... they seem to be working with urgency.
My wife grows little decorative pumpkins (more like gourds) every year in the garden... they're ready to be harvested already‼ Heck, I don't remember ever harvesting them before October... ever‼ The cucumbers stopped producing over a week ago, the tomatoes have all but shut-down, and all the onions have been pulled. I know the calender says September 3rd... but damn, except for the green leaves on most of the trees, it just "feels" more like October 3rd 'round here.
I'm thinkin' this month will be interesting to watch as it unfolds.
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