By Melissa Hutsell
At approximately 1:21 AM, Pacific Standard Time, on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, the American West Coast will once again experience the Autumn Equinox. The equinox, which comes twice per year (once in spring during the third week of March, the other in fall) means that on this particular day, the amount of daylight and night are the same; in other words, the longest day of the year has passed and we can now look forward to shorter days in San Joaquin and beyond! Kiss the long, hot days of summer goodbye as we welcome the cooler weather and colorful landscapes with open arms!
The history of the autumn and spring equinoxes extend thousands of years into ancient history, from the Roman Empire to the mountain ranges of Machu Picchu, and even Native American cultures. Julius Caesar established the spring equinox around March 25, 45 BC in an effort to balance or approximate the Julian year with that of the solar year (or the time that the sun takes to re-position in the cycle of seasons). Throughout human history and across several different cultures around the world, the equinox has always played an important role during the harvest, which we in San Joaquin can attest too. In an effort to relish the changing of the seasons, we invite our readers to get out and explore the many parks that act as a canvas to the seasonal tapestry that is our deeply rooted agriculture region; Micke Grove Park, Oak Grove Park, Harmony Grove Church, Dos Reis Park, Regional Sports Complex, Mossdale Crossing Regional Park, Stillman Magee and the Woodbridge Wilderness Area.
For More Information:
San Joaquin County Parks & Recreation
(209) 331-7400
SjParks.com