Like it or not [and, our friends in Door Peninsula Astronomical Society actually do like early darkness!] the time changes this weekend. And here at Crossroads, we are observing more than the time changing.

In an article in SELF called “The Scientific Reasons Why the Smell of Autumn Makes You So Emotional”, Lauren Mazzo wrote of “anticipatory nostalgia—the sensation of missing the present moment before it’s even gone. Because the season is so fleeting, there’s an urge to hold fall in all its glory because it will be over soon.”

But then, we know about the progression of the seasons. To early prehistoric humans, it must have seemed that the world was coming to an end. The days would get short, cold would replace the warmth of summer, leaves would die and fall from the trees.

Thanks to science, we understand that in the temperate forest biome, plants and animals have evolved to use winter as a time for rest and renewal. Trees go into winter dormancy—a deep sleep—long before weather becomes harsh. The date on which trees enter dormancy seems to depend on latitude and elevation. Deciduous trees in the far north, for example, drop their leaves long before trees in milder climates. Apparently, trees use day length to signal the time to be dormant. Their discarded leaves provide a blanket for their roots.

The brilliant colors of autumn fade, but discarded foliage more than compensates with something just as special—the aroma of late autumn.

Late fall fragrance, according to researchers, is a combination of chemicals. Throughout the year, evergreen trees exude volatile oils called terpenes… mostly pinenes. These odors are familiar: the scents of fresh Christmas greens—the smells of a growing pine forest on a summer day. Fermenting autumn leaves release volatile chemicals as well. 

In the charming Door County classic Journeys to Green Places, Virginia Eifert wrote: “The air is full of scents which have been distilled from the organic vapors given off by every leaf and flower during the entire growing season just past…..They are the perfumes of autumn.”

Native wildflowers have adapted to seasons as well. Seeds of many native plants don’t start growing during winter thaws because they require a period of stratification, meaning they need to experience a cold, moist winter period to break dormancy and to trigger germination when spring arrives.  A brief thaw alone isn’t enough to initiate growth, because the seeds are genetically programmed to wait for the consistent warmer temperatures of spring before sprouting.  

The late autumn changes are featured in Crossroads activities this week. 

On Saturday morning, November 2 at 10:00, the Door County Seed Library  will offer a Native Seed Collection Day. Seed Library volunteers will help participants identify and gather seeds in the gardens and meadows of Crossroads. They will explain which seeds require stratification and how to store them.

At our family program, Science Saturday (offered every week starting a 2:00) the topic will be the “Sense of Smell.” After some indoor experiments and demonstration in the lab, the group will hike into the forest to inhale the autumn aromas.

At 10:00, the first Monday of each month, we hold our Current (Ecological) Events Club.  All are welcome, this month we will be exploring articles about  the aromas of autumn and speculate about how changing climate will affect dormancy in trees and flowers. Folks are welcome to stop by the Learning Center prior to Current Events Club to pick up the copies of the articles for discussion.  

Embrace fall in all its glory. It will end too soon. It always does. So, head to the forest to inhale the heady aroma of autumn which, psychologists assure us, is mood elevating.n Public Television documentary Wisconsin Water from the Air.

– by Coggin Heeringa, Interpretive Naturalist

For more information, please check out our Crossroads calendar or stop by the Collins Learning Center and pick up a printed calendar. Our trails are open all day every day, free of charge, thanks to the generosity of donors like you!

Crossroads at Big Creek Learning Center and Nature Preserve is located at 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay. Crossroads is a 501(c)3 organization committed to offering education, conducting research and land restoration, and providing outdoor experiences to inspire environmental stewardship in learners of all ages and from all backgrounds. We welcome your support. 

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Upcoming Activities

Monday, October 28

1:30 – 3 p.m. Documentary: “Wisconsin Water from the Air”

“Wisconsin Water From the Air” takes viewers above, atop and along state waterways that inspire reflection, wonder and adventure. From the routes that the Wisconsin, Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers carve through the state’s landscape to the wide-stretching shores of Lake Michigan, celebrate the waterways that shape Wisconsin.

Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Open to the public and free thanks to the generosity of donors like you.

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Wednesday, October 30

1:30 – 2:30 pm Wandering Wednesdays – Naturalist Led Hike

Join a naturalist a gentle, but fragrant hike through the late autumn forest. Easy walking. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to our donors.

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3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Enviornmental Exploration – Meet the Bat

This program is intended for elementary school students but is open to all ages. Learn about the Halloween icon… bats! Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to the generosity of donors like you!

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Saturday, November 2

10:00 am – 12:00 pm DCMGA – Native Seed Collection Hike

Learn about the importance of native plants and collect native seeds for your personal garden.

Participants will be invited to collect native seeds fromthe Crossroads’ meadow. The event will start with a short (~15 minute) presentation in the Collins Learning Center auditorium, then participants will go to the meadow to collect seeds.

Free and open to the public presented in collaboration with Door County Master Gardeners, Door County Seed Library, and Crossroads at Big Creek.

2:00 – 4:00 pm Science Saturday – The Sense of Smell

Join this indoor program and explore the science of scent. This weekly family program is intended for elementary students, but learners of all ages are welcome.

Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Registration not required. Open to the public and free thanks to the generosity of donors like you!

7:00 – 9:00 pm DPAS Astronomical Viewing Night

Starting at 7:00, planetarium shows are offered every half hour. Because seating is limited. Those waiting can tour the astronomy campus and observatory. At dark, around 9:00, DPAS members offer outdoor viewing and open the dome on the Leif Everson Observatory.

Free and open to the public. 2200 Utah Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Visit facebook.com/DoorPeninsulaAstronomicalSociety for updates and more details