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 2013 Mouse-over the photo for the identity of the subject Cicada

Date

Observation (Click on links for photos)

Sep 29

The timing of Fall leaf color and the actual colors achieved vary considerably among species, locations and as here even among individuals of a single species. The green leaves at the left and the yellow leaves at right are on two adjacent individuals of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica).

Sep 27

Another morning fog, but this time it lends itself to a representative image, as here as the sun was burning it off in Allouez, Brown County, WI.

Sep 26

Extremely dense and widespread fog in the City of Green Bay and along the west shore of the Bay this morning. Too much fog to even allow a representative photo. The fog did not dissipate generally until about 10:30 a.m. There has been morning fog for several days now.

Sep 25

	Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is usually among the first woody species to produce bright red leaves in the autumn. There is also another, and more common species, also called Virginia creeper or woodbine (Parthenocissus inserta). See the entry below for Sep. 14. They are both woody vines and are related to our wild grape (Vitis riparia).
	Local news media are reporting this morning that the Tower Drive/Leo Frigo bridge on Highway I-43 at the mouth of the Fox River in Green Bay is closed due to a large "dip" in the pavement. Traffic is rerouted appropriately.

Sep 24

Another rapidly maturing fruit is soybean (Glycine max), in local fields.

Sep 17

Low temperature 37° F. The lowest since May 24. You can begin to see the envelope for the season. Rising out of the freezing area in May and descending again in Sep, although the first frost date is in October on average as I recall.

Sep 16

Low temperature down to 38° F.

Sep 14

Another conspicuous fruit is that of the grape woodbine or Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus inserta). This is a woody vine that can climb on adjacent trees, shrubs, fences, etc., and produces large blue berries on thick red stalks.

Green Bay's low temperature was 41° F this morning, the coldest since June 3 (103 days).

Sep 10

Another example of plants in fruit is the gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa) shown here. Each "berry" contains a single large seed.

Green Bay received 1.39 inches of rain today.

Sep 7

It is, of course, the season of maturing fruit for wild as well as garden plants. Many are obvious now, but white spruce (Picea glauca) comes to mind as some of the trees I pass on my way to work in the morning are now dropping seeds.

Sep 5

Wild grape (Vitis riparia) is also ripening now in the Green Bay area.

Sep 4

Fruits of highbush cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) are now nearly all ripe. This shrub, which is not a cranberry at all in spite of the common name, tends to keep these fruits on the branches until next spring.

Sep 3

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemissiifolia) is now at about the peak of flowering, and is a major contributor to "hayfever" in our area.

Sep 2

Many plants are in fruit now, as this bunchberry (Cornus canadensis).

Sep 1

There are not many Cicadas in NE Wisconsin this year but there are some, as this annual Cicada from Marinette County. This is a great time to get your junior naturalists out in the fields because there are many invertebrates to be found now.