Like it or not [and our friends in Door Peninsula Astronomical Society actually do like early darkness!], the time changes this weekend. And here at Crossroads, we are observing more than the time changing.
In an article in SELF called “The Scientific Reasons Why the Smell of Autumn Makes You So Emotional,” Lauren Mazzo wrote of “anticipatory nostalgia—the sensation of missing the present moment before it’s even gone. Because the season is so fleeting, there’s an urge to hold fall in all its glory because it will be over soon.”
But then, we know about the progression of the seasons. It must have seemed that the world was ending to early prehistoric humans. The days would get short, cold would replace the warmth of summer, leaves would die and fall from the trees.
Thanks to science, we understand that plants and animals have evolved in the temperate forest biome to use winter as a time for rest and renewal. Trees go into winter dormancy—a deep sleep—long before the weather becomes harsh. The date trees enter dormancy seems to depend on latitude and elevation. For example, deciduous trees in the far north drop their leaves long before trees in milder climates. Trees use day length to signal the time to be dormant. Their discarded leaves provide a blanket for their roots.
The brilliant colors of autumn fade, but discarded foliage more than compensates with something just as special---the aroma of late autumn.
According to researchers, late fall fragrance is a combination of chemicals. Throughout the year, evergreen trees exude volatile oils called terpenes… mostly pinenes. These odors are familiar: the scents of fresh Christmas greens—the smells of a growing pine forest on a summer day. Fermenting autumn leaves also releases volatile chemicals.
Virginia Eifert wrote in the charming Door County classic Journeys to Green Places: “ The air is full of scents which have been distilled from the organic vapors given off by every leaf and flower during the growing season just past.....They are the perfumes of autumn."
Native wildflowers have adapted to seasons as well. Seeds of many native plants don't start growing during winter thaws because they require a period of stratification, meaning they need to experience a cold, moist winter period to break dormancy and trigger germination when spring arrives. A brief thaw alone isn't enough to initiate growth because the seeds are genetically programmed to wait for the consistent warmer temperatures of spring before sprouting.
The late autumn changes are featured in Crossroads activities this week.
On Saturday morning, November 2, at 10:00, the Door County Seed Library will offer a Native Seed Collection Day. Seed Library volunteers will help participants identify and gather seeds in Crossroads' gardens and meadows. They will also explain which seeds require stratification and how to store them.
At our family program, Science Saturday (offered every week starting at 2:00), the topic will be the “Sense of Smell.” After some indoor experiments and a demonstration in the lab, the group will hike into the forest to inhale the autumn aromas.
At 10:00, the first Monday of each month, we hold our Current (Ecological) Events Club. All are welcome. This month, we will explore articles about the aromas of autumn and speculate about how the changing climate will affect dormancy in trees and flowers. Folks are welcome to stop by the Learning Center prior to the Current Events Club to pick up copies of the articles for discussion.
Embrace fall in all its glory. It will end too soon—it always does. So head to the forest to inhale the heady aroma of autumn, which psychologists assure us is mood-elevating.
Saturday, November 2
10:00 Native Seed Collection Hike Participants will be invited to collect native seeds from the Crossroads meadow. The event will start with a short (~15-minute) presentation in the Collins Learning Center auditorium; then participants will go to the meadow to collect seeds.
Free and open to the public, presented in collaboration with Door County Master Gardeners, Door County Seed Library, and Crossroads at Big Creek. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay
2:00 Science Saturday; Sense of Smell
Join this indoor/ outdoor program and explore the science of scent. This weekly family program is intended for elementary students, but learners of all ages are welcome. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration is not required. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, this program is open to the public and free!
7:00 DPAS Planetarium Show and Viewing Night at the Astronomy Campus
The Door Peninsula Astronomical Society will offer a Halloween-themed planetarium show featuring some of the spooky things in the night sky including ghosts, witches, specters, and other things that give us those creepy feelings. From constellations to nebulas, we will explore some of the eeriest things visible in the night sky. Shows are repeated every half hour. Sky viewing begins if and as soon as stars become visible. Meet at the Stonecipher Astronomy Center, 2200 Utah Street, Sturgeon Bay.
Monday, November 4
1:30 Current Environmental Events Club
This month, we will explore autumn aromas and tree dormancy with a deep dive into current ecological articles for lively discussions, new friendships, and deepening our understanding of the natural world! Stop by the Collins Learning Center anytime before the meeting to receive free copies of the articles for the next meeting. Free and open to the public.
Wednesday, November 5
1:30 Wandering Wednesday
Join the naturalist for a gentle but fragrant hike through the late autumn forests at Crossroads. No reservations are needed. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
3:30 Environmental Exploration: Bubbles
This program is geared to elementary students, but learners of all ages are invited to learn about Bubbles. Reservations are not needed. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.
