September is two-thirds gone and the trees are still pretty green. But there are signs at Severson Dells that fall is here.

  • The New England and smooth blue asters are Honey bee on asterblooming in their late season brilliance. The honeybees in our hive are thankful.
  • Monarch butterflies are fueling up on thistle nectar as they ride the breeze south to Mexico. It’s incredible to think that a fragile insect can fly thousands of miles.
  • Warblers, thrushes and other migrants have been moving through, stopping in for a rest and a meal before heading south. Recent entries in the log at Severson Dells include the American redstart, Tennessee warbler, Nashville warber and Swainson’s thrush. Flocks of turkey vultures are common this time of year. We’re still awaiting the great kettles of hundreds of broad-winged hawks that ride cool weather fronts south to Texas, Central and South America.
  • Whitetail fawns have pretty much lost their spots.
  • The pokeweed berries are ripe.

And the biggest signal that fall is here– the furnace at the nature center kicked in this morning

Brian Leaf