In teaching children about the cycles of nature, I often encourage them to look for signs of the season. The lesson has gotten a bit confusing this fall, however, since all we seem to be finding are signs of spring.

Annual plants’ seeds are sprouting as if the warm damp ground indicates the vernal rather than the autumnal equinox. Native shrubs and trees are developing their tender new leaf buds. And many plants are producing new flowers or simply continuing to bloom long past their season.

As a naturalist, I have kept a detailed journal of the observations I make about the natural world. A decade or so ago, one of the first signs of spring in the Northwest was the appearance of the flower catkins on the hazelnut and the alder trees.

However, with this being the warmest decade in recorded history, these catkins have been forming earlier and earlier every year. Astonishingly, both of the trees’ catkins began to form in August, when the plants were still dropping their nuts.

Last week, on an unseasonably warm day, I discovered that the alder catkins had actually opened and were raining pollen! Those with spring allergies were stunned to find that they were experiencing symptoms in the fall. According to my records, this is the first instance of a Northwest tree releasing pollen in the fall.

Besides the trees, many annual and perennial plants are acting as if it is spring. Both the native salal and the evergreen huckleberry as well as the alder are forming new leaf buds — something that historically has occurred around March. New miner’s lettuce and shot weed sprouts cover the ground amidst the decomposing leaves.

Many flowers are blooming out of season, such as dandelion, geum, and Western bleeding heart. New nettles are even appearing, thankfully allowing us to benefit from their nutrition in fall as well as the traditional spring.

Even the animals seem confused by this unusually warm and dry weather we have been experiencing. Frogs are chorusing in ponds like spring creepers and both the winter wren and the varied thrush are performing their vernal breeding and territorial songs. Many insects are still flying about long after they should be hibernating. I have seen dragonflies, blue darners and crane flies within the past week. Because of this seasonally late insect activity, spiders are ubiquitous: The orb weavers are spinning their webs across every path and even in some cars.

For those of us who pay attention to the rhythm of nature and observe the signs of seasonal change, this year is a strange blend of spring and fall. Although I enjoy this unusual fall bounty of protein-rich alder catkins, fresh foraged sprouts, sweet flower blossoms and nutritious leaf buds, I also worry about the plants that need the fall and winter seasons in which to go dormant and regenerate.

Hopefully the cold and rain will return soon and the natural world can take its seasonal rest.

— Erin Kenny, a longtime Vashon resident, heads the non-profit Cedarsong Nature School.