Autumnal Equinox - 2025

The First Day Fall - 2025 

Autumn Trilogy Notebooks: photo by Cliff Hutson

The autumnal equinox in 2025 occurs today (September 22) at 2:19 PM EDT (11:19 AM PDT). This marks the official start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere.

I have used a photo of some notebooks by Field Notes as the leaves where I live will not start to turn for several weeks. I wrote about this phenomena some years ago.

An Oldie but a Goodie

A blast from the past: This year the family was able to gather together for the holidays. But, I am too sated to write about it.  So, I am rerunning this post from a year we could not.

Tamales

Tamales de Bruce: photo by Cliff Hutson

The word “tamale”, or tamal in Spanish, derives from the Aztec word of the Nahuatl language, tamalli, meaning “wrapped food.”  In most versions, tamales are made from a mixture of corn dough (masa) and filling, then wrapped in a corn husk (or perhaps a banana leaf), and then steamed. The tamal is unwrapped before being eaten.

While store-bought tamales, or those from vendors (tamaleros), are available year round, Homemade ones, as they are very labor intensive, are usually reserved for big occasions like Dia de los Muretos, Christmas,  New Year's Day, or other special celebrations. Indeed, many of us think of tamal season as starting in November and running to January.

In The Time Before, many us would gather at my son's home for a tamale making party, a tamalada, or he would bring them to some other family gathering. Sadly, that was not in the cards this year, of course. But, I am fortunate enough that he was willing to make a one hundred mile round trip just to drop off some off on my porch. So, while this dinner was with just me and my cat, I was still with family in a way and the tradition continued. 

It's Back!

Jacaranda Season

Jacaranda Blossoms: photo by Cliff Hutson

I took the weekend off to the watch the Memorial Tournament. So, I am linking to a timely rerun; the Jacarandas are once again in bloom this year.

Jacaranda IPA: photo by Cliff Hutson

Update (06/15/2024):

I seldom return to something I have posted, but I saw this today and could not resist proving that I am not the only who thinks that these trees are special.

The First Day of Fall - 2020

 Autumnal  Equinox

Farm Truck: photo by Cliff Hutson

The Autumn Equinox for 2020 in Northern Hemisphere was at 6:30 AM (PDT) this morning, marking the astronomical start of the fall season. 

"The Old Farmer's Almanac"  says that another definition of fall is “nights of below-freezing temperatures combined with days of temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21°C)”. From here on out, the temperatures begin to drop. I do not know who its target audience is, but that is certainly not the case for us.  But, there are some notable changes.

Night and Day

Changing Leaf: photo by Cliff Hutson

After the Fall equinox, nights become longer than days, bringing us into a period of relative darkness. It is this difference in the amount of sunlight that triggers the changes in foliage for many of our trees and other plants. 

While tradition has it that Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend is when the color peaks in New England, our best colors do not occur until much later in the season. So, some years the best way to tell that Fall is here is to watch for the return of Pumpkin Spice Latte. But, that came early this year. 

Jacaranda Season

Blue Jacaranda Blossoms: photo by Cliff Hutson

“Beautiful hands are as rare as jacaranda trees in bloom, 
in a city where pretty faces are as common as runs in dollar stockings.”
 - Raymond Chandler

Jacaranda Trees

It can be very difficult to discern seasons in Southern California. Temperatures can near triple digits in December as easily as they can in July. June days can be as cool as the ones in January. But, one “season” that is hard to miss is “Jacaranda season”. One of my favorite times of the year, due to its beauty of blue-violet flowered trees which line our streets and fill many public spaces.

Jacaranda mimosifolia, also known as the “blue jacaranda,” usually blooms in late May or early June, and the blossoms last for a few weeks. The trumpet-shaped flowers are an inch or two long, and usually five-petaled. They look good on the trees. I also think that they look great as a carpet on the ground. But, many complain of the litter gumming up the soles of their shoes. I will admit that the sticky flowers can also be tough on a car’s finish. Gardening guides recommend that these trees be planted well away from swimming pools or other high-maintenance areas.

Jacarandas, ubiquitous as they are, are not native to our area. The trees are indigenous to Northwestern Argentina and adjacent Bolivia into Brazil. Mature trees can reach 25 to 45 feet, in an oval canopy spread almost as wide as its height, with light green, fernlike, 10-12" long compound leaves with small oval leaflets.

Trivia lovers might be interested to know that a Jacaranda mimosifolia in Santa Ana is registered as a California Big Tree. It measures 58 feet high, with a trunk circumference of 98 inches and a crown spread of 73 feet. But, as I said, I think they look great in any size.

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