Phenology

Observations by Gary Fewless for Green Bay WI (Lat.N 44.51° Long. W 88.02° ), except as noted. For flowers lacking conspicuous petals or sepals I define "anthesis" as release of pollen by mature anthers.

September 2002

Observations by Gary Fewless, except as noted

Date	Observation (Click on links for photos)
Sep 30	Very warm in Green Bay, with a high temperature of 83 F.
Sep 29	There is still very little fall color in Northeastern Wisconsin. The Sugar Maple forests are still mostly green, as seen in this photo from Florence County. Some Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) and Red Maple (Acer rubrum) leaves have turned red. Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra) leaves have turned brown in many places and some herbaceous plants like Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum) and Wild Sarsparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) have turned brown and yellow respectively. It is likely that the period of fall colors will be shorter this year than usual (Gary Fewless).
Sep 23	The low temperature this morning was 35F at the airport and there were scattered reports of frost across the area. That is the lowest temperature in Green Bay since May 21. Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) leaves have begun to quickly turn yellow, which is their typical Fall color. Sumac is also well along in color change.
Sep 16	Staghorn Sumacs (Rhus typhina) now beginning to turn red, UWGB (Gary Fewless).
Sep 15	Light frost in low-lying areas of northeastern Marinette County and elsewhere in northeastern Wisconsin. There is still very little evidence of fall leaf color although some leaves have dried up and turned brown. There are some Red Maple (Acer rubrum) leaves turning red, and some Staghorn Sumacs (Rhus typhina) (Gary Fewless).
Sep 14	Sulfur Shelf (Laetiporus sulfureus) and Beefsteak (Fistulina hepatica) mushrooms observed, near Holland, Brown County (Matt Welter).
Sep 13	Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus vitacea) are quickly turning red, UWGB (Gary Fewless). Canada Geese have returned to the East River and adjacent marshes and fields in large numbers.
Sep 11	Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) first open flowers, UWGB (Gary Fewless). This species begins to flower later than any other of which I am aware, in the Green Bay area. It began to flower as the leaves of Sumac in the same field began to turn red. There are still only a few plants of New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae)in flower on UWGB. The first plant to flower last spring was Skunk cabbage on March 12, 183 days ago, or about 6 months. Canada Goldenrod is at about peak of yellow color in UWGB fields, but the Asters are all still very inconspicuous.
Sep 10	Nodding Ladies-tresses (Spiranthes cernua) in flower along roadside on county highway Y, Town of Peshtigo, Marinette County (Joel Trick). [This species may have been in flower since late August, but had not previously been reported here, GF] Giant Puffball mushrooms observed on UWGB (Mike Draney). Still very little leaf color change in Oconto and southern Forest Counties. Except for injured or diseased individuals the only conspicuous color was from some red leaves of Sumac (Rhus typhina) and the yellow leaves of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaeifolium). Some Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra) leaves have begun to curl up and turn brown at the edges, but not to turn yellow.
Sep 9	Flying Ant day. Millions of flying ants emerging and flying all over Green Bay and DePere. Gulls are swarming and flying erratically while eating them. This event always happens an "off" day in September when it is unusually warm and muggy, rather than cool. Ants seen swarming in the grass, on sidewalks and climbing tall things (Betsy Bartelt and Matt Welter).
Sep 8	New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae) first fully open flowers, UWGB. (Gary Fewless). Over 1000 Chimney Swifts swirling around a single chimney near sunset. Like a bat emergence in reverse, the chimney swifts all enter the chimney within fifteen minutes. By 7:45 pm they have all fluttered down into the chimney. St. Norbert Campus, West De Pere (Matt Welter).
Sep 7	Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) leaves are turning red in northern Wisconsin. In the Townsend area of Oconto County the leaves of some clones are about half turned to red and some conspicuous color is evident all the way south to Brown County (but less so near the Bay). Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta) is also rapidly changing color. Most other trees and shrubs are still green however, except for damaged or diseased individuals (Gary Fewless). Zig-zag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) in flower, T. of Cooperstown, Manitowoc Co., (Joel Trick). An unseasonally warm day in northeastern Wisconsin, some areas near 90F with high humidity. Ragweed pollen remains high, causing numerous people to suffer from hayfever, often misinterpreted as "a summer cold".
Sep 6	Heath Aster (Aster ericoides) first fully open flowers, UWGB (Gary Fewless).
Sep 3	Several conspicuous species have not yet begun to flower on UWGB, including the large blue-flowered New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), Heath Aster (Aster ericoides), and Showy Goldendrod (Solidago speciosa) (Gary Fewless). They won't have long to produce mature seeds before the growing season ends. As you might imagine, these species are near the northern edge of their distribution here.
Sep 2	First flowering of Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), UWGB (Gary Fewless).
Sep 1	First flowering of Maximilian's sunflower (Helianthus maximilianii), Baird Creek area, City of Green Bay (Gary Fewless). Calico Aster (Aster lateriflorus) has only been in flower for a couple of days (I missed the start).