Backyard Almanac

Maybe we're not quite at the point where we're crediting Mother Nature with actively looking out for us, but for those searching for rhyme, rime, or reason in these strange and terrifying times ... it's right outside.

December may give us the shortest days of the year, but it's packing a whole lot into those short days.

In October and November, the first half of the month differed dramatically from the second half. In fact, October and November saw record-breaking warm temperatures and we only missed them yesterday by a degree or so. Sunsets continue early until December 15, sunrises don't start getting earlier until early January, and the Geminid meteor shower and the conjunction will be only other people's social media images if the clouds don't break up.

So far, December is following the pattern set by October and November: quiet and dry, thawing during the day and freezing up overnight. Starting Monday, the dark month earns its nickname with 4:20pm sunsets - the earliest of the year - for about a week. And then ... they start getting later again. Could spring be far behind? It's probably too soon to ask that. Larry also mentioned it's almost Christmas Bird Count time again; you can find a lot of information about the Count and how you can take

As we wrap up the month of November, we're also saying goodbye to meteorological autumn.

Thaw during the day ... freeze overnight. Welcome to "normal November." In other news, once upon a time, says Larry Weber ( and Laura Erickson ), say, 30 years ago or so, evening grosbeaks were common Northland visitors. And then ... they were gone. The good news is, they're starting to come back.

Larry Weber says he got it wrong last week. He said the warm temps would probably mean that we'd get summer, autumn, and winter all in one month. Turns out, we got them all in ONE WEEK.

Was it really only last week we were bemoaning the end of Aut-win? It's one of Larry's favorite seasons; that wonderful in-between-time when the leaves are off the trees and before the snow has fallen to stay. First it seemed like the shortest Aut-win on record, like the snow was here for good. But that was before a couple of record-breaking days in the 70s this week. Stargazing without bugs, kiting spiderlings and more on this week's edition of Backyard Almanac!

Here's something that will appeal to phenology fans, even though it's a first-time occurence: Larry Weber is getting a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Minnesota Association for Environmental Education, "for his outstanding service and contribution to the field of environmental education in Minnesota." More information about Larry, his award, and how you can congratulate him at the virtual ceremony, Sunday, November 8 from 2:0pm to 4:00pm, is available here. In other news, we'll have a blue

Two weeks ago it was 80°. A week ago, there was no snow. Last Friday, Larry Weber was heralding the beginning of Aut-Win. Eight days of aut-win? Is this the shortest aut-win EVER? It just might be, but if you want to relive the glory days of aut-win, Larry Weber has written the definitive guide, and it's called Awesome Aut-Win. If you would like to take a copy as a thank-you gift, click on the "donate" button in the upper-right corner of our home page and make your membership pledge online now

Aut-win ™ , for those new to Backyard Almanac, is that time of year after Leaf Drop ™ and before the first lasting snow. Aut-win ™ arrived on the heels of some hard rain and gusty winds Sunday into Monday when Leaf Drop ™ officially took place. But fear not: Tamarack Time ™ is just getting started!

Right up there with ice out, freeze up, and first snow is LEAF DROP. And Larry wants us to know it's a deliberate act on the part of trees.

It's been another record-setting week in the Northland ... September came in only 1° cooler than normal this year, but we saw less than an inch of rain, compared with the four inches or so we usually get. That means, so far this year, September and June are going down as some of the driest on record. Milkweeds, on the other hand, need dry conditions to form pods that then split open so they can disperse their seeds. And another record was broken yesterday at Hawk Ridge. They made this

It's officially fall; the days are getting shorter and the trees are putting on a colorful display. There are still late season wildflowers adding to the color, and milkweed pods are opening to release their seeds. Mushrooms, migrating ducks, bats, and bugs are all part of this week's phenology report from Larry Weber.