Thursday 23 September 2010

Autumn


The autumnal equinox occurred this morning at 4.09am. Day and night are of equal length today, the first day of autumn.  From now on the days are shorter than the nights as the year moves through autumn towards winter.

Autumn is a time of endings, the end of summer and warm weather, the end of the growing season for many plants as they produce seeds and berries before settling down to the relative dormancy of winter. However, perhaps because the new school year begins at the end of summer, it also feels like a time of beginnings, a time for new crisp exercise books and freshly sharpened pencils.


I will be taking eldest son back to university on Saturday to start his second year. The end of the long summer break and the start of a new term.

Endings and beginnings, the berries in the hedgerows marking the end of one season but the seeds inside those berries containing all the information needed to start a new plant next year. The end of a summer of long days and the start of a winter of short daylight and longer darkness.

The equinox, a moment of balance between day and night, between summer and winter, and now the cycle of the year continues.


1 comment:

ginny farquhar said...

wow, the year has gone fast.
hope you are well. i really agree that autumn seems to fit more with new beginnings that new year. sad to read that you may be giving up your allotment though. your chutney does look wonderful. sending you lots of love
Ginny xx