At peak magnitude, seek out the goddess of love planet in a clear blue sky in the west-southwest during daylight hours, being extremely careful to keep eyes diverted from the sun.
Derived from the Latin "sol" ("sun") and "sistere" ("to stand still"), the Sun seems to stand still at its rising and setting locations for several days on either side of the exact moment of solstice.
“How surprised I was to discover the flowers,” neighbor Judy exclaimed about seeing the creeping bellflowers (Campanula rapunculoides) for the first time in early summer. “Every single day something wonderful popped up that I didn’t expect. I found my curiosity reawakened. Less mow, more fun watching what pops up. I’m 100 percent in on decreasing the size of my lawn.”
The seventh brightest star in northern skies and one of the furthest stars visible with the naked eye, Betelgeuse meets our eyes inspiring wonder—and motivation—of gigantic proportions in the months ahead.
Even amidst the wild beauty of our landscape, and the beauty of planting gardens of any size, and preparing wonderful edibles in the kitchen, the challenges of climate change to life on Earth are all too evident. For one, frost has arrived one month later than the 20th-century norm.
Halloween is an astronomical holiday, a cross-quarter day recognized since ancient times, the name having roots in the autumn celebration of All Hallows’ Eve and All Hallows’ or All Saints Day.
I experienced the rigor and delight in learning to identify asters and goldenrods in a recent field workshop led by botanist Ted Elliman at Jug End Reservation in South Egremont.
Because we can’t see our own mental models, it is difficult to change them. Unlearning requires a deeper level of awareness than learning does. It requires self-discovery, discipline, confidence, curiosity, and courage.
To learn about and participate in the protection of Earth’s night skies that are increasingly threatened by light pollution, I urge you to register for Under One Sky Global Conference 2023, a 24-hour Virtual, Worldwide Event, November 3–4, 2023.
While feeling the motions and rhythm of broadcasting the peas and oats, the image of “The Sower” by Jean-François Millet came to mind. I jumped for the role of a contemporary Sower!
The rising Sun is moving quickly from its summer reaches in the northeast towards its due-east position, to be marked on the Autumn Equinox, Saturday, September 23 at 2:50 a.m.
Braised slabs of squash steak with a buried center portion of sautéed smoked wild sockeye salmon trimmings and scallions, pictured above, is my interpretation of the example of a “third plate,” given by renowned chef Dan Barber in a recent program in Great Barrington.
