The words "the four seasons" may mean different things to each of you. It could be the name of a hotel where you once stayed, or it might remind you of a musical group with the same name. A few may even remember the 1981 Alan Alda movie with "the four seasons" as its title.
To me "the four seasons" reflects the ever-changing stage upon which we live here in northern Michigan.
Sometimes we take this wonderful drama of nature for granted. Our friends and relatives who live full time in Florida don't get to experience the same kind of transition while moving from one season to another. They go from hot to warm and then hot again and most things stay green. It's at this time of year that I think about seasonal changes most often.
To me, fall is the most beautiful time of the year. Even though autumn has an official start date, for most folks it starts with Labor Day. For many, summer ends on that day and it marks the beginning of a new season. Schools have reopened and, for families with children, summer vacations are but a fond memory. Around the lakes, docks and boats begin to disappear from the shoreline as summer residents begin to close their cottages for the year. I am surprised to see them packing up so early. I feel like they are leaving the theater in the middle of a great movie and are going to miss a beautiful ending.
The trees are already beginning to lose their bright green foliage, which is gradually replaced with shades of yellow, orange and red. Our mornings begin with crisp, cool air, which is sometimes followed by a warm, sunny day. Wildlife instinctively senses the change and we begin to observe their preparation for what is to follow. Chipmunks are busy stocking their burrows with a winter supply of nuts and seeds while squirrels are digging holes in the yard and burying acorns for later use.
One frosty morning we realize that it's been a while since we last saw a hummingbird at the feeder and the decision is made to take it down for annual winter storage. Out on the lakes and ponds, we begin to observe migrating ducks that have not been seen since last spring, and at the bird feeders, we miss watching some of our regulars.
Just like the wildlife, we humans react to the changing season. Those colorful leaves begin to fall from the tree branches and appear in our yards, which marks the beginning of raking chores. Garden crops are harvested and we savor the few remaining tomatoes. A dose of fall fertilizer is applied to the lawn in hopes that it will feed the grass until spring arrives.
This year, we cut down three trees on our property and the stacked logs need to be split before we can enjoy those crackling fires on brisk nights yet to come. That project has already begun, but at my age I work a little slower. In a small way, I can relate to how northern dwellers from earlier generations must have felt, being hopeful that they had enough wood set aside to keep them warm through the winter months.
Before we know it, the color-filled days of October will be upon us and we will begin to anticipate that first flake of snow in the air. I have a few good books set aside for reading on those snowy days when I'll sit and wonder who will be the first person to trust the winter ice for a fishing adventure.
I hope you all enjoyed each day of this past summer and, as I am, look forward to one of the most colorful of the four seasons.
Ed Hungness and his wife owned their cottage on Fife Lake for six years before moving there after his retirement in 2005. His writing draws from life experiences and a love for the outdoors and northern Michigan. He can be reached at edhungness@yahoo.com
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