On Building an Inventory of the 36 Middle Seasons

 

Jennie and a Shagbark Hickory at Waterfall Glen on 10/3/2020

Recently I made my second collage of images from our current Middle Season.  I'm adding three more images from that day.

Sumac in Waterfall Glen on September 3, 2020

The original Middle Season post contained a photo of a sumac that was just beginning to turn red.  when did the first leaf turn red?  In what season will the last leaf fall?

American Bittersweet at Waterfall Glen

This photo makes me wonder when the blossoms forms on this tree?  Will these berries turn red?

If there were 36 Middle Seasons, it would go something like this:   Season 1: January 1-10; Season 2: January 11-20; etc. Today, October 6, is the 280th day of the year.  So, the photos above would be from Middle Season 27.  The autumnal equinox- September 22, the 266th day of the year, would be Season 25 (or 26)-Season 34 (or 35) (December 21, the 356th day of the year).  

Maybe the year of Middle Seasons should begin then... on the Winter Solstice.  

Middle Seasons could be captured and identified not just by representative photos, but by observations.  It's long been a goal of mine to "Note 10 Things" each day that capture my attention.  (Mostly I don't get to 10...) Here are 10 recent observations:

1. The long khaki grasses on the edge of the tollway contrast with the autumn blue sky
2. The kitchen window frames the galling full moon in the dark sky at 5:50
3. Black birds are flung through the wind gusts like trash bags
4. The fitful sun angles through massed clouds
5. An enormous shiny black cricket hops into a fat crack between black pavement and the concrete curb by a waiting school bus.
6. The moon  hanging higher in the key each morning, later, smaller
7. Mouse poo scattered on the stainless steel grill tray, almost like a modern art installation
8. black furry mouse scurries to safety after he falls from the shaken grill cover
9. yellow leaves falling like rain... a shower of falling leaves
10. on my morning bike ride commute, low morning sun lighting up treetops, moody lighting

For every 10 days, there could be 10 captured moments per day: 100 captured moments of a season, all representative of that season. A catalog.  Building an inventory.