Early fall is a feast for the senses and a time of transition. It brings kaleidoscopes of vivid colors, bouquets of aroma, every flavor under the sun, and the satisfying sound and sensation of dry leaves crunching underfoot. Autumn is a time of dichotomies— a time of abundance and of preparation for scarcity, of revelry and contemplation, and of equal gratitude for light and dark.
On September 22, 2024, day and night will once again be of equal length, this time, the night growing stronger as the sun wanes. The wheel of the year turns. This growing season ends and the next begins. It’s time to celebrate what the summer has provided and strengthen our connection to nature before winter approaches.
Here are a few ways to commemorate the labor and luck of the past growing season:
Participate in a BioBlitz
Join our BioBlitz and rediscover your sense of wonder as you stop to marvel at blooms, seedpods, and other signs of life along the park’s multicolored autumn trails. Choose your ecological adventure from our three options— Explore a brand new natural area Uptown to see what plants are pioneering this new prairie. Focus on plants and pollinators at Lincoln Monument and Gardens to help inform the upcoming redesign of the space. See how the reconstruction of North Pond is progressing. Contribute to citizen science and to the betterment of these scenic park sites this Public Lands Day, September 28th.
Meditate or journal
After an action-packed summer, it’s time for a slow wind down. As we shift into waning days, now is a great time to look inward. Examine your patterns and proclivities to discard what isn’t serving you. Reserve at least a few undisturbed moments each day for introspection. Start (even just a 5-minute) morning yoga practice, a midday meditation, or an evening journal session. Take advantage of this time of equilibrium to recalibrate.
Decorate with natural items
Fall’s beauty is unparalleled. Decorate your home, entryway, or tablescape with natural items. Collect seedpods and fallen leaves, dry flowers from your garden or window box, or support local farmers by purchasing a variety of gourds, pumpkins, and decorative corn. Enjoy incorporating these gifts and remnants of summer into your space as part of your preparation for growing nights and thoughtful inner roaming.
Acknowledge the moon
Many of us experience a night so saturated with urban lights that we are unfamiliar with darkness. The widespread availability of electricity has made us take for granted the brightness of the full moon. This year, take notice, as the harvest moon will also be a supermoon. Look for it to rise immediately after sunset, allowing farmers to continue working into the night at this busy harvest time. Light a candle, read a poem, remember the moon, and welcome the darkness.
