Fall and the Autumn Equinox

​It’s September! The heat is finally starting to give, signaling the beginning of fall. Cooler weather means it’s about time for the beautiful colors of the seasons as the leaves start changing. 

Just like with summer, there are technically two “first days” of fall. The meteorological first day, which passed us on September 1st, is determined by meteorologists, who divide the year into four neat seasons so it’s easier to compare climate data between years. 

​But culturally and historically, the true “first day of fall” is actually the Autumn Equinox. 

​What’s an equinox?  

There are two equinoxes each year: the vernal equinox in spring, and the autumnal equinox in fall. “Equinox” comes from the Latin aequus, meaning “equal,” and nox, meaning “night.” The name refers to one of two days each year when we have about the same amount of daylight as we do darkness – that is, about 12 hours each. This happens when neither of Earth’s hemispheres is tilted more towards the sun than the other. 

After an equinox, the Earth’s axis continues its pattern, and one hemisphere will begin to tilt towards the sun while the other tilts away. In the fall, our Northern hemisphere is the one tilting away, which means we’ll start to see less sunlight each day, making the days “shorter.”

​When is the Autumn Equinox? 

​This year (2025), the autumnal equinox is on September 22nd. 

​What does that mean for me?

The start of fall means we should finally start to see some cooler weather, though of course, here in Georgia we know all about false fall. But overall, temperatures are going to trend downwards. 

That means all the usual fall pleasures are almost here, like pumpkin spice lattes and corn mazes and cozy nights by the fireplace. Washington Farms will open soon, and there will be plenty of fun fall events to go to, like the UGA Botanical Gardens 14th Annual Native Plant Sale on October 2nd, or the Oconee County Fall Festival on October 18th. 

The leaves are going to start dropping, so soon it’ll be time to break out the rakes. While you’re out there, keep an eye on your trees – as the branches get bare, it’s easier to spot signs of decline that might be cause for concern! 

And even though things are cooling down, there’s still plenty of time to get working on that garden. Check out our article on what you can plant in the fall. 

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Author

Emily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has worked with Classic City Arborists for the last 5 years. In addition to handling administrative tasks and customer communication (she’s the voice you’ll hear on the phone!), Emily is an experienced copywriter, editor, and storyboard consultant. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.

Sources:
Falmer’s Almanac
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)