A little snow and a lot of cold air and strong winds in the Green Bay area. The wind has resulted in very low water levels in Green Bay this afternoon.

Canada Geese are definitely gone from the Allouez fields--I miss the sound.

Yesterday's mystery photo was of the fruits of our common wild Clematis (Clematis virginiana) sometimes called "devil's-darning-needle" or "virgin's-bower". Many people are familiar with horticultural species of Clematis with large blue or purple flowers. The flowers of Clematis virginiana are not very showy, but the fruits (each one a single-seeded, dry "achene" with a conspicuous tail that aids in dispersal) are very interesting.

The daylength has shortened dramatically. On June 21st we received 15 hours 33 minutes of daylight. Today we will receive 10 hours 34 minutes--a reduction of 1/3. By December 21st we will receive 8 hours 50 minutes. Changes in the duration of daylight are an important part of the life histories of some plant and animal species, providing at least part of the stimulous to hibernate, migrate, shed leaves, flower, etc.

The Canada Geese are no longer frequenting the Allouez fields in the evening or morning, as they had done since Sep 13, although they can still be seen flying overhead and even landing on the East River in the evening.

Yesterday's mystery photo was Common Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata). It is a common shrub species in northern WI on moist soils under full or partial sun.

Today's mystery photo may be more challenging. It is also a fruit of a local plant, but this time it is of a species with dry fruit--the identity provided tomorrow. The area shown in the photo is a little over 2 inches across.

Eastern Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis), Northern Red-bellied snakes (Storeia occipitomaculata) and Fox Snakes (Elaphe vulpina) all seen basking on roads. This indicates they have not yet entered hibernation. Door Co, seen driving from Green Bay to Baileys Harbor and back (Steve Price).

Tamarack (Larix laricina) in good fall color, Shawano Co, Navarino area. Some trees near Lake Michigan in Manitowoc Co were still mostly green yesterday (Gary Fewless).

The species of Asters flowering last week (see notes of 10/11) are still in flower, but are now visibly diminished. Flocks of Canada Geese still frequent the East River marshes and fields.

Leaf color is well past peak by my estimation, but good color can still be found, especially in Door County and other sites near the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Water of Lake Michigan (and Green Bay) continues very low, at the same level as last month, about 0.1 ft higher than last year at this time and about 1.1 feet above the record low of 1964. The large areas of lake bed along Green Bay's west shore that have been exposed by falling water over the last few years have now been colonized by plants. The photo is of the Pecor Point area in Oconto County, taken 10/13/2001.

Flocks of Canada Geese continue to feed in fields along the East River, but the numbers have declined conspicuously.

Despite the cold temperatures over last weekend, many of the Asters are still conspicuously in flower in the Green Bay area. This morning I noted Smooth Aster (Aster laevis), New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), Heath Aster (Aster ericoides), Panicled Aster ( Aster lanceolatus, previously A. simplex) and Calico Aster (Aster lateriflorus) still with colorful flowers and relatively healthy (at least upper) leaves. Many Goldenrods are still conspicuous, but the flowers are mostly past the bright yellow stage and are now turning brown as the seeds mature.

Large flocks of Canada Geese still present morning and evening in marshes and fields along the East River in Green Bay.

Wood frogs beginning hibernation. Some were found under several inches of leaf litter and soil during surveys in the Baileys Harbor area of Door County (Steve Price).

Oct 01