Ah, the cruelest month, August (apologies to T. S. Eliot).
I’m noticing that daylight here in New Jersey is starting to make subtle changes from what I think of as “summer glare” to “autumnal mellow.” I know we’re still in for some hotness, but it’s feeling fall-ish.
If you’re in my part of the world, do you see the change? How about other corners of the land?
Already? Summer is technically only about halfway over, I think.
It doesn’t get the memo nearly this early here. Summer ends by mid-October if it’s in a good mood.
We’ve been dodging the really hot stuff out here in the High Desert of So-Cal; only one heat wave for a week back in late May or Early June in the 105-110 range. Other than that, mostly upper 90s and low 100s on a pretty consistent basis…very tolerable. Like Cisco though, we’re only half way through the summer.
Connecticut - yes. I haven’t smelled fall yet [can’t wait] but the days are definitely getting shorter.
I know what you mean, Jennshark. I noticed it just yesterday.
Rather then a harsh summer sun, there was more of a mellow quality to the sunlight.
Interesting, last night, it got down to 55°F here, so we had a cold front move through.
Yep. The loaf of bread on my kitchen counter is my astrolabe, or whatever gadget you use to determine the tilt of the earth’s axis in relation to the sun. For several months of the year, I have to keep the bread away from the big south window so the sunlight doesn’t hit it. If I don’t, the extra warmth causes moisture on the inside of the plastic wrapper. It’s not a problem in the summer.
I’m just starting to move the bread. Fall is coming.
‘The’ land? While quoting T.S. Eliot? 
Yep, a definite withdrawl into darkness of ordinary evenings.
It is a GORGEOUS day here: 75 degree high!
We’re halfway between Solstice and Equinox; so for everybody in the Northern Hemisphere the days are noticeably shorter than they were in June and July. In Atlanta, we’re having the highest temperatures of the year so far, but it’s nice to know that there’s only a couple more months of summer.
Yesterday wasn’t too bad and today looks good too. Bring it on, I love the fall!
Part of my garden is bordered by tall woods to the south. I have strawberries planted such that as the suns’ angle declines post harvest the plants get more shade. It acts much like AuntiePam’s loaf of bread to indicate the shift. But I really noticed it in mid-July.
I’m contemplating entering a local renaissance festival with my wood work [walking sticks, bows, canes etc…etc…] and I already have the entry form - so fall is definitely approaching.
I’m in Minnesota. I have to be at work by 7:30 am, so I started noticing the shift last month. There’s also a little chill in the air in the mornings that wasn’t there last week, and I’ve seen flocks of birds. My budgies are quieting down a bit, too. During spring and early summer, they sing their hearts out and play vigorously. Now, they play less and mumble to themselves. Unless I’m talking on the phone, of course, in which case they are sure to offer a wide range of opinions for the benefit of whoever I’m talking to.
I’m at the same latitude, more or less, as the OP, and yep, the first week of August, there’s a subtle shift. My bedroom faces east, and one of my summer dawn rituals is climbing up on the bed to slide down the storm window and close the window in that east window (keeps the cool air in the house and the hot air out of the house if you button it up right at sunrise). And yep, the first week of August is when one morning it’s subtly not “incipient hot summer sun” blasting in that window, but something mellower. Also, the sun is rising, not to the left of the front porch of the house next door, but over their house itself. Moving towards the slanting right-hand light of winter, when it’ll be rising over their backyard and just barely making it in that window.
I find the whole thing fascinating. I frequently bore my loved ones with observations like, “Look! The sun is setting directly in the west! That’s because it’s the equinox!” while we’re coming home from the grocery store. They’re like, “Uh huh…”
Oh yeah. We live in the mountains, and it’s very easy to tell. “hmm, I’m on my way to work and the sun isn’t hitting that peak yet”.
It’s sad and comforting at the same time. Summers are wonderful here. Rarely over 80d and nice cool nights. But they are short, you have to bust butt to get things done.
Winters are harsh, but can be beautiful too. If your prepared for it, it’s not too bad. We have the most brilliant sun/light in winter at elevation. With all the snow, you are just as likely to get a sunburn in winter as summer.
Winters are long though. 25 feet of snow last year (at least, we stopped counting). It takes a long time to melt.
Yep. Even here at damn near sea level, I absolutely love the winter light, especially in the late afternoon. The reds especially are deep and beautiful. We’re heading into spring soon here, so I’ll have to enjoy it while I can.
The distant heat haze of an Australian summer isn’t bad either, but if it’s amazing colours you’re after, then winter is where it’s at.
The colder nights are starting and the vegetation is going into die off mode. Early in August I always notice the subtle plant changes and start thinking 3 to 4 weeks until frost, hurry up and ripen damn it.
It’s changing but not to autumn just yet. Much of July is the rainy season in Japan, which then gets followed by scorching hot, gurglingly humid weather that lasts through August and well into September (in Tokyo, anyway). The high is usually the second and third weeks of August, so we’re on the upward slope at the moment.
Autumn weather doesn’t really start until October.
How many Dopers does it take to change the light in your part of the country?
This thread is making me sentimental for fall, which is weird because I always HATED fall. I guess it’s true you don’t really appreciate things until they’re gone.