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 2003

Observations by Gary Fewless, except as noted

Date	Observation (Click on links for photos)
Sep 30	Low temperature of 32F and widespread frost this morning. Painted Lady butterfly noted on asters (Aster lanceolatus) later in the day, UWGB.
Sep 29	There are reports of frost in Brown County this morning. Green Bay weather service reports a low temperture this morning of 31F. That is our first freezing temperature of the Fall. Rhinelander went at least as low as 28 F.
Sep 28	Green Bay's low temperature of 34F is the lowest of the season to date. This should accelerate the color change of leaves. An annecdotal account of a few snow flakes in Forest County today.
Sep 20	The Monarch butterfly migration was in full motion today at Whitefish Dunes State Park, along Lake Michigan. A steady stream of Monarchs could be seen heading south, during the warm portion of the day. They weren't exactly "bumper to bumper" as is the case with automobiles on such Fall weekends in Door County, but it was possible to see scattered butterflies for a considerable distance north and south along the shoreline.
Sep 19	The large prairie grasses are still actively flowering, as in this photo of Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans). I saw a large clone of Maximilian's sunflower (Helianthus maximilliana) that still has not begun to flower, although the buds are very close to opening, City Green Bay.
Sep 18	Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus vitacea) fruits are prominent now in the Green Bay area. The deep blue fruits with bright red stalks are very conspicuous and the leaves will soon turn bright red also. This is a vine and a relative of our wild grape. Click here for more images of Virginia creeper.
Sep 17	Some flowers of New England aster (Aster novae-angliae) are at peak now, but a few plants have still not yet begun to flower.
Sep 16	A few leaves are beginning to turn red or orange on staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) on the UW-Green Bay campus.
Sep 15	The bright white fruits of Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) are conspicuous in the Green Bay area now.
Sep 14	Green Bay received 2.66 inches of rain from Friday evening (Sep12) through today. The area was extremely dry and the long slow rains provided much needed water for local plants and animals.
Sep 12	Yesterday's high temperature of 84F has pushed us over the 80 degree mark for average high temperature this September. The long term average for this time of year is about 71. The large orb-weaver spiders (Argiope aurea) are now abundant in fields in the Green Bay area, and widely distributed in Wisconsin in a variety of sunny sites.
Sep 11	Dry and unseasonably warm weather continues in Green Bay. High temperatures have averaged nearly 80 F in September and we have had no rain in the last 14 days. The soil is cracked and dry in many areas, but trees and shrubs remain healthy in appearance for the most part. Plants on thin soils such as on large rock outcrops have dried up, however.
Sep 10	"Flying ants" invaded Peterborough, Ontario, today, September 10. It was an unusually warm, muggy day. Drew Monkman. [note: last year in Green Bay this event occurred on sep 9. See last years entry. GF] Numerous Sand Hill Cranes were observed in Marinette County today where they have aggregated in harvested fields, apparently to feed on the excess corn and perhaps other crops left behind by the harvesters.
Sep 09	The foliage of local trees and shrubs is surprisingly green. It is not uncommon for some species and some individuals of others to begin some display of Fall colors in late August, or at least to begin to "fade" as they wind down their active phase.
Sep 08	An examination of local fields finds the goldenrods prominent, but the Asters have not yet reached their peak. Indeed many individual plants have not yet begun to flower, as is also the case for some goldenrods such as showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa).
Sep 07	The pesky wasps are in full force in our area, menacing picnics and other outings. They seem particularly drawn to the rims of open soda cans, thereby posing a risk to those drinking from the can. Many if not all of the worst pests are alien species, yet another example of the problems caused by invasive species.
Sep 04	Goldenrods (Solidago spp. and Euthamia spp.) are at about peak now on UWGB. The most conspicuous species in local fields is Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), but there are at least 8 species on UWGB and 24 in Wisconsin.
Sep 02	Azure aster (Aster oolentangiensis, previously A. azureus) in flower, Brown County. This is a species of very dry, sunny sites. The similar, but much more common smooth aster (Aster laevis) is also in flower, but I missed the start.
Sep 01	The first open flowers for New England aster (Aster novae-angliae), UWGB. There is only one plant with any flowers open (Gary Fewless).