Have you noticed that the days have been getting shorter? In fact, this past Monday at 1:19 p.m. CDT, we reached the autumnal equinox when the night was about as long as the day. On this day, days and nights are approximately equal in length for everyone across the globe. It is bringing summer to the Southern Hemisphere and winter to the Northern Hemisphere.
This equality between night and day also happens during the spring equinox in late March. From now on, the days will continue to grow shorter until late December. From December to March, the days will continue to grow longer until they are approximately equal in length. Then they start over again. Fall and spring coincides with the equinox and winter and summer with the solstices.
The Home page image for this blog post shows the leaves of the sugar maple (Acer saccharum).
Very nice explanation, Donna
How nice to hear from you, Lucy — Donna