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 2005

Observations by Gary Fewless, except as noted

Date	Observation (Click on links for photos)
Sep 30	September was a notably warm month this year. Temperatures in Green Bay were about 5.5° F higher than the long-term average for September. Precipitation was average for the month (3.07 inches).
Sep 25	The water level in High Falls reservoir on the Peshtigo River has been drawn down dramatically to facilitate maintenance on the dam. Large areas of the lakebed are now exposed.
Sep 24	Ilex verticillata (winterberry holly) is at about the peak of its fall fruit display.
Sep 21	Flocks of Canada Geese are prominent in Green Bay now. We see them every day and at night they can be heard in large numbers on the East River.
Sep 20	Wild Turkeys seem to be unusually numerous his year in northeastern Wisconsin, and they also apparently are becoming less wary of people.
Sep 17	Water level in the Wisconsin River is extremely low, as shown in this photograph of one channel (of two parallel channels around an island) near Portage Wisconsin. It is normal for water levels to fall at this time of year, but this is much lower than usual. Water levels are low throughout the state, but southern Wisconsin did not receive the recent rain that fell in the north. Fluctuating water levels can be inconvenient for boaters, but they may be an important force in maintaining biodiversity on the rivers, lakes and wetlands.
Sep 15	Green Bay's low temperature today was 44° F, the lowest since May 30.
Sep 13	Goldenrods are nearing the end of peak flower and they are the most conspicuous feature of old fields in our area, as shown here on UW-Green Bay's Cofrin Arboretum. The most abundant species in the photograph is Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod). An introduction to goldenrods with links to photos of common species is under construction. Brief, but strong thunderstorms moved through Wisconsin in the late afternoon and evening. In northeastern Wisconsin peak winds of about 70 mph were recorded. Green Bay had numerous broken and wind-thrown trees and downed power lines. About 13,000 homes lost power, and some were still without electricity the following morning. The rain was welcome though with amounts ranging from about one-half inch to 2 inches (0.95 inch in Green Bay).
Sep 10	Warm temperatures and low precipitation totals are taking a toll on the vegetation. In Marinette and southern Florence Counties I noted numerous trees with colored, brown or fallen leaves. Fraxinus nigra (black ash) is quite susceptible to late summer droughts. Some black ash swamps were dry enough to walk in in street shoes and many trees had already lost most of their leaves. Many individual trees of various species, perhaps those that are in poor health or most severely water stressed, are turning color quite early and Pteridium aquilinum (bracken fern) has turned brown already in some areas.
Sep 11	Green Bay's high temperature of 90° F is considerably higher than the average of 71°.
Sep 08	Flocks of Geese are prominent in the fields at UW-Green Bay.
Sep 07	Aster novae-angliae (New England Aster) and Solidago speciosa (showy goldenrod) are now in flower on the UWGB Campus. These are among the latest plants to flower in our area. Green Bay received 0.38 inches of rain.
Sep 02	Some whitetail deer bucks have already shed the velvet from their antlers.
Sep 01	Flocks of shorebirds are notable on Green Bay and elsewhere in our area as migrating birds from farther north are passing through.