Last week, Governor Maggie Hassan picked the ceremonial “first apple” of the season, and proclaimed that day as New Hampshire Apple Day.
While we would have preferred that she did the honors at one of Londonderry’s venerable apple orchards, apple season has started. And that says we’re leaning more into fall than summer.
In spite of the tropical weather visited on us over Labor Day weekend, the nights now are colder, the light has a yellow tinge, and the days have shadows that clearly say autumn. And while the season doesn’t officially change until Sept. 22, we don’t need a calendar to tell us what is coming.
Sure, we’re still in shorts and sandals. The tomatoes are still turning red on the vine and the butter and sugar corn is still plentiful. But now we’re checking out how big the pumpkins are getting to be, and starting to think about Halloween costumes.
If you haven’t enjoyed any of the bountiful peach harvest, better hurry before it’s too late. And plan ahead to spend some time at a local apple orchard, where you can stock up on your favorite varieties, get plenty of apples for pie, and maybe have some left for cider or sauce. We’re fortunate to have the chance to taste the real thing, literally in our own backyards.
This is the time of year when mums start appearing on porches and at mailboxes, reminding us of the colors the leaves will soon become. Unlike in many part of the country, we don’t have to look at photos to get in the mood for fall – we just have to look out the door.
Have you noticed the squirrels scurrying around with acorns? They’ve been at it for a while already. And if you’ve driven anywhere near a swamp lately, the changing colors of the trees can’t be denied.
It’s a perfect season to take a walk. Visit your town conservation areas and discover the hidden treasures of the woodlands you and your neighbors have preserved. Soon enough, your outdoor exercise will be directed at raking those colorful leaves whose time has come.
All in all, it’s a wonderful time of year, a time when nature’s bounty and beauty are on display for everyone to enjoy. And as New Englanders, we know what comes next.
