Vincent Van Gogh once wrote “What a simple thing death is, just as simple as the falling of an autumn leaf.” The process isn't all that simple, but by discarding their spent leaves to sustain themselves, whole forest benefits.

The late movie star Marilyn Monroe once said, "I feel like a warm red Autumn." Trees on the edge of fields, roads, lakes, and in yards receive far more sunshine than forest trees, so they turn a vivid autumn red. But, trees on the edges tend to be stressed.

When composer and mycologist John Cage visited Interlochen, he spent a good share of his time between the lakes outdoors under the stately pines searching for mushrooms.

Because the Earth is slightly tilted on its axis, we have warm seasons and cold seasons that result in fluctuations of soil moisture, evaporation rates, river flows, lake levels, and snow cover. Solveig, the loyal woman who loved Peer Gynt, waited season after season for his return from a long journey.

The days grow shorter when we reach September, but instead of slowing down and enjoying romance, most wildlife creatures are in a frenzy of preparation for the coming seasons.

In late summer and early fall, groups of non-breeding loons that gather. Perhaps they couldn't find a territory or attract a mate. Maybe they lost their mates. They are the lovelorn loons, still carrying on, dancing on the water and singing to the moon.

Back in Shakespearean times, when Juliet told Romeo that "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," it was probably true. In today’s world of hybrids, plant patents and name trademarks, a rose with a new name probably won’t smell all that sweet, if it has any fragrance at all.

Most states hold a state fair at the end of August or the beginning of September. But "it might as well be spring," both for the starry-eyed female protagonist in Rogers and Hammerstein's 1945 movie musical, "State Fair" as well as a few species of late-blooming flowers.

The root a of wild carrot, now known as Queen Anne’s Lace, is waxy, white and slender. The long, plump carrots we know and love were developed by plant breeders in the Netherlands in the 16th century.

The hours just before dawn are probably the best time for meteor watching and August 12th and 13th are supposed to be the peak. But any clear dark night during the next week or so, you may catch a glimpse of a falling star.