The landscape is like the turning firmament above us, and its particles and fruits are earth stars that revolve through memory, each season containing the recollection and therefore the soul of all those other seasons which preceded and which are to follow.

Poor Will’s Almanack, November 2006

THE ASTRONOMICAL OUTLOOK
FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF LATE FALL
The Buzzard Migration Moon wanes throughout the period, entering its final quarter at 10:56 a.m. on November 9. Summer's Hercules is setting in the west by 10:00 p.m., and the Great Square of Late Autumn is moving in behind it. Cassiopeia lies due south of Polaris, its deepest intrusion overhead. Aldebaran leads Orion higher each night. Procyon of Canis Major is just emerging from the east; watch for it at midnight.

NOVEMBER WEATHER IN THE LOWER MIDWEST
Average high temperatures continue their decline through the week, dropping into the lower 50s north of Indianapolis and Columbus, and into the upper 50s in northern Kentucky. Nighttime lows are in the 30s throughout the region. Looking ahead, expect November's temperatures to keep falling one degree every 50 hours. With averages plummeting a total of 14 degrees in the next 30 days, expect up to 15 mornings with frost.

THE WEEK IN NATURE
More than half of the canopy is gone, but the woodland paths are still green, dappled with late violets and dandelions. Ironweed is white for picking, and goldenrod and thimbleweed are pale and bushy like thistledown throughout the undergrowth. Barberries, rose hips, and coralberry shine in the dull fields and hedgerows.

Grasshoppers still hop in the sun, and crickets sing in the dark. With the trees and shrubs bare, the river reflects the whole blue sky against the last golden leaves along their banks.Asparagus fronds and hosta leaves yellow in the garden. Bittersweet has opened and trumpet vine leaves are suddenly down. Blue privet berries are showing more and more now. The chicory has closed for the year, and the Jerusalem artichoke plants, tall and bristling in September, are broken and withered.

In the swamps, February’s skunk cabbage appears now.  Protected by the streams, watercress shines; dock and ragwort come back beside the dead field grasses. Out in the country, new winter wheat has turned fields bright green again.  In town, lawns grow back; they can be long and thick beneath the fallen leaves.