September 1998

     Happenings in and around Linnaeus Arboretum

Listed below are a few observations from a year ago made in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, including the Linnaeus Arboretum/Nicollet County area (and out of the area where indicated). Many of these observations have also been recorded in the Minnesota Weatherguide/Environment Calendar, published in conjunction with the Freshwater Foundation and WCCO Radio/Television, to which Gilbert has contributed since 1977. These events can be used to anticipate September 1999 happenings and will help to compare this year with last.
 
 

1 - Monarch butterflies heading south singly, at a rate of about four per minute, this afternoon along the west side of Lake Waconia. In southern Minnesota, lots of haying activity and farmers chopping corn.

2 - Virginia creeper vines showing some red foliage. American crows busy eating ripe wild grapes. Steady stream of monarch butterflies heading south over Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.

3 - Large numbers of Franklin's gulls roost on Lake Waconia. Wild asters and goldenrods blooming in abundance. From early morning on into evening, a red squirrel in Bloomington is active, continuing to cache seeds with great determination and high energy.

4 - Still some Baltimore orioles visiting grape jolly feeders. Jerusalem artichoke, stiff goldenrod, and 'Autumn Joy' sedum.are blooming plants which honey bees are foraging on in numbers.

5 - Field corn plants turning tan-brown. White snakeroot blooming nicely. Eastern bluebird pair has late nest with four young. In Owatonna area, sweet corn for processing is still being harvested, fourth crop of alfalfa is being cut, and leaf-drop has begun in some mature soybean fields.

6 - Bur marigolds have showy flowers in wet spots. Red Baron apples ripe. Swallows (barn and others) line up in long lines on utility wires. Statewide, 29 percent of corn for silage has been cut, potatoes are 18 percent harvested and sweet corn 85 percent harvested.

7 - The last of the Baltimore orioles left the Minnetonka area to spend the winter in Central America. The surface temperature of Lake Minnetonka is 74 degrees F. Fall producing raspberry canes have ripe and ripening fruit. Migrant white-throated sparrows arrived in Brooklyn Park.

8 - Both butternuts and black walnuts are falling. The green prime is passing; many trees, shrubs and vines show some fall colors. Common flickers are migrating through the Grygla area.

9 - Lawns are drying out again. Poison ivy showing some yellow and red foliage. Heath aster and both pale and spotted touch-me-not blooming nicely.

10 - Cicadas buzzing on this 90 degree F. day. Farmer near Belle Plaine is combining corn. Early!

11 - First American coots return to Lake Waconia for the fall season. Two Cologne area farmers combining corn. White-lined sphinx moths, monarch butterflies, and ruby-throated hummingbirds nectaring on garden flowers at Gustavus Adolphus College.

12 - Hundreds of sulphur butterflies over field or blooming red clover. In early evening, dozens of common nighthawks seen circling and diving overhead, but heading south. At the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 50 varieties of' chrysanthemums bloom, and the dahlia collection is also very colorful.

13 - Numerous white-lined sphinx moths (one of the hummingbird moths) nectar on garden flowers such as impatiens, vincas, and geraniums. Native sugar maples showing patches of red and burnt-orange. Statewide, 66 percent of winter wheat has been seeded for 1999 crop.

14 - Migrating monarch butterflies still numerous. Common grackles in big flocks. Boxelders showing up to 50 percent yellow foliage.

15 - American robins are eating hackberry tree fruit and crabapples and moving through in flocks. First brown creeper of the fall season. Small vocal flocks of migratory blue jays seen flying south over Elm Creek Park Reserve.

16 - Young snapping turtles hatching. Surface temperature of Lake Waconia is 76 degrees F., and Lake Minnetonka is 77 degrees F., so the swimming season continues.

17 - McIntosh, Minjon, Sweet Sixteen, and Cortland apples being harvested. Still much fruit on wild plum trees; very good eating. From St. Peter north to Little Falls, Park Rapids, and beyond it is dry and we see tan-brown lawns, and ponds are drying up.

18 - Largemouth bass, of Lake Waconia, biting like everything. Much yellow autumn foliage on hackberry trees. Hundreds of giant water bugs attracted to football field lights at Delano. Crocus and daffodil bulbs should be planted in September for bloom next spring

19 - Cedar waxwings and American robins feast on mountain ash fruit. Raccoons eat Virginia creeper vine berries. Migrating monarch butterflies stop to nectar on New England aster flowers.

20 - First ripe Regent apples. Statewide, about 6 percent of the field corn for grain has been combined, sugarbeets are 7 percent harvested, soybeans 14 percent, and potatoes 34 percent.

21 - First time we turned on the furnace for many weeks. Highbush cranberry shrubs have bright red fruit in clusters. The combining of field corn is in full swing in southern Minnesota.

22 - First frost in Carver County; only in low areas. Much steam fog rising from lakes. Sugar maples vivid on ridge above North Shore of Lake Superior.

23 - Large patches of red fall color on many sugar maple trees in the Lake Minnetonka area. At 10 a.m., about two dozen turkey vultures soaring over Minnesota Zoo, and heading south. Paper birches and aspens colorful along Gunflint Trail.

24 - Large influx of American coots on Town Bay of Lake Waconia, about 1,000 birds now. Migratory birds moving through include common flickers, American robins, yellow-rumped warblers, and white-throated sparrows.

25 - Golden-yellow foliage seen on eastern cottonwoods, American elms and green ash trees. Rugosa roses and garden roses continue blooming nicely.

26 - Red foliage attractive on poison ivy, sumacs, Virginia creeper, and sugar maples. Yellow foliage noticed on bittersweet and grape vines, common milkweeds, and silver maples. Butternut trees are nearly bare; they are the first to drop their leaves.

27 - Last ruby-throated hummingbird of the season at Waconia feeder. Overall peak for fall colors in Finland, Minn., area. The foliage fall colors are beautiful and the juncos are back in the Grygla area. Statewide, the harvest of soybeans is 36 percent complete.

28 - Peak of fall color for Virginia creeper vine foliage; mostly red. Surface temperature of Lake Waconia has dropped to 69 degrees F. Between Belle Plaine and Le Sueur, at least half of the soybean and corn fields have been combined.

29 - First slate-colored juncos arrive. Thousands of Franklin's gulls spend these autumn nights on the water near the center of Lake Waconia. Beautiful foliage fall color on hills above Grand Marais.

30 - Sumacs are at overall fall color peak. Nice reds! Kentucky coffee and blue beech trees showing beautiful golden-yellow foliage.