4 Signs from Nature That it is ‘Back to School’ Season

Here are four separate natural indicators that always hit the bulls eye when it comes to predicting the start of the school year.

1 -  My Nana's Morning Glories

Beautiful and bountiful with colors too pretty to describe, these flowers seem to know that the yellow buses are coming and they trumpet this warning only in the clear sunrise of early Autumn.

2. Pink Hydrangea

Don't let this happy guy fool you. Pink Hydrangea are evil. 90 percent of the New England variety are white ALL summer and then the very second school starts, they turn pink. If the first day of school is August 27th, they're pink!  September 9th? Pink. Diabolical.

3. Buckets of Apples

Easily my favorite of the natural melancholy school year indicators, the glut of delicious apples is difficult to complain about. In my opinion some of the very best apples are early varieties. Try the ginger gold or an early mcintosh from your local orchard and you will not be dissappointed.

4. Bats!

Don't be afraid! I've been watching these little radar guided vermin dive bomb for insects for decades and not one has ever clamped on to my head. That's a terrible Hollywood myth. In the twilight of late August, they really put on quite a show. I'm not sure if it's migratory or due to an oncoming dormancy period but it is way better than watching fireworks.

I haven't gone to 'Back to School' since September of 1997, yet these local natural indicators STILL give me a sense of foreboding. Perhaps someday I'll enjoy them without the dread of the three R's in the back of my mind.