Summer beginning to wind down
As much of the planet baked under intense heat this summer, Southwestern Pennsylvania fared a lot better than most. The weather people tell us that much of Europe, Australia even Alaska and the Southeastern states had record warm temperatures.Around here temperatures have been closer to their seasonal averages.
The past few weekends have been delightful with sunny skies and moderate temperatures. A few mornings, both last week and this past week, have been very pleasant in the 50s and 60s. We did have a few periods of heat and humidity; however, they were quickly followed by a cooler much more pleasant air mass from Canada. Our area experienced a total of nine days with 90 degrees or better and this is just about normal. While ninety degree weather can occur on any day in September and even into the middle of October, it is usually just a day or so and not any prolonged period at this time of the year.
September is one of my favorite months with a lot of sunny pleasant days and cool comfortable nights. Temperatures average 82 for the high and 58 for the morning low on the first of the month and by month蘑菇视频 end the averages will have dropped to 72 and 48 degrees, respectfully.
Records for the month are 99 degrees set on September 3, 1953, and 29 degrees set on the morning of September 25, 1983. Frost usually holds off until October, but can occur in late September in the mountains. The corn and tomatoes this year have been fantastic and good tomato salad with a few ears of local fresh corn make for some wonderful meals at this time of the year.
In the woods and meadows, Mother Nature is busy getting ready for some really big fall shows. A few trees are beginning to show a hint of color and our meadows are ablaze with the colors and abundance of the late summer wildflowers. Yellow Golden Rod, sneeze weed and sunflowers are everywhere as are the ivory Queen Ann lace, purple iron weed and lavender Joe Pye. Some the iron weed and Joe Pye are a good 8-10 feet tall from all the rain and sunshine.
Perhaps our favorite is the orange black-eyed Susan. We started a few of these in the front yard a few years ago and they have spread into a cascade of brilliant beauty. On a sunny day their brilliant color seeps into the house and brings colorful joy even on a cloudy day. They bloom continuously for 8 to 10 weeks and when finished make great seeds for the birds. Who needs grass when you can have a garden of wildflowers that bring the bees and birds along with their colors?
Every year, we marvel at how quickly summer come and goes. This year is no exception. Take time to enjoy all the beauty of our open fields and meadows as they put on their annual colorful wildflower show. In a month, we will be enjoying the added beauty of the changing of the leaves and the riot of color produced in our forests when this occurs. September is a great month for day trips to explore our area and enjoy its natural beauty.