Some say autumn starts today. This year, I’m going to respectfully disagree.
I know, it’s all in how you look at it. According to Meteorological Seasons, autumn begins on the first day of the month that includes the equinox. But if we go by Astronomical Seasons, autumn doesn’t come until the actual date of the equinox, which this year is September 22. Since I haven’t really known what day it is for the past six months, I’m clinging to summer for another three weeks.
In years to come, I’m going to remember my COVID summer as one of early morning zen. I gardened as the sun rose. I meditatively de-tossled reed canary grass in my prairie garden (now how did that sneak it’s way in there?). I also sat with my bees, thanks in part to Song of Increase: Listening to the Wisdom of Honeybees for Kinder Beekeeping and a Better World. A great book, by the way.
These days the sun doesn’t rise until 6:20. The swallows have left for their winter resort. Wet grass makes rubber boots a necessity. My prairie flowers are drying and I’m collecting seeds for next year’s planting. My garden is glorious with peppers, cabbages, potatoes and tomatoes—so many tomatoes this year!
And my bees are washboarding.
What’s that, you ask?
Washboarding. It’s a honeybee behavior with absolutely no explanation other than it’s interesting to watch. They hang out en masse on the front of the hive, rocking back and forth, back and forth, humming happily along. They look like they’re scrubbing clothes on a washboard, thus the name. Some say bees begin washboarding at the end of the nectar season.
Wait. End of the nectar season? As in summer really IS coming to an end?
As the song and verse goes “to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
Happy September, my friends. Whether you’re celebrating your first day of autumn or three more weeks of summer, here’s an Instagram video to bring peace to your days.
Looking ahead…
COVID requires us to be innovative entrepreneurs. Looking for marketing ideas for the months ahead? Greeting cards for the holidays? A new website for the new year?
Love to hear from you!