Poor Will’s Almanack
By Bill Felker

Sept. 13-19, 2010
Here are no stories told you of what is to be seen at the other end of the world, but of things at home, in your own Native Country, at your own doors, easily examinable with little travel, less cost and very little hazard.
-Joshua Childrey, 1660

Lunar phase and lore
The Elderberry Wine Moon waxes throughout the week, entering its second quarter on Sept. 15 at 12:50 a.m. and turning completely full on Sept. 23 at 4:17 a.m. While moon changes from crescent to gibbous, it sweetens the elderberries as it moves overhead in the evening.

Fishing and scouting for game should be most successful as the moon moves overhead after supper or at the second-best time, in the early morning. Dieters, of course, may have more difficulty keeping away from food at those times. Lunar influence on hunger – both human and finny – often increases as low-pressure systems bring rain and storms around Sept. 15 and 20.

Moon lore suggests that the waxing moon helps the sprouting of winter grains, garden cover crops and late plantings of lettuce for October salads and spinach to overwinter for spring greens.

Weather patterns
The third week of September brings one of the most radical swings so far in the season. Not only do the chances for highs only in the 60s move from 10 to 30 percent, but cold afternoons in the 50s become possible for the first time since June 4.

The likelihood for warm 90s or 80s falls sharply throughout the period, with Sept. 18 bringing only a 20 percent chance for highs above the 70s, the first time that has happened since May 6. Each day this week brings at least a 30 percent chance for showers, with Sept. 18 having the highest chance: Almost 50 percent.

The mornings are chilly, and the possibility of a light freeze grows steadily. Two weeks ago, the odds were high against frost. Now, the chance for freezing temperatures to occur in a seven-day period is up to 40 percent. Next week it will be 50 percent. In two more weeks, it will be 80 percent, and in three weeks, almost 100 percent.

Daybook
Sept. 13: When you see fallen leaves starting to accumulate in the backwaters and farm ponds, and when you notice the black walnut trees are almost bare, then the grapes on your arbor should be getting ripe, half of your commercial tomatoes and potatoes should be harvested and you should consider preparing the soil for canola, grasses and small grains.

Sept. 14: Early fall begins this week throughout the region. One of the first signs of early fall is the appearance of giant white puffball mushrooms in the woods. As the sun moves to within a few degrees of equinox, other things tell the time as well as puffballs.

Bright patches of scarlet sumac and Virginia creeper mark the fencerows. The rich scent of summer pollen is almost gone, replaced by the pungent odor of fallen apples and leaves. Cicadas are dying. Bees are awkward and stiff in the cool mornings. The fat Osage fruits are falling.

Sept. 15: The moon enters its second quarter today, and lies at its weakest tidal position of the second half of September. The cool front due to reach the Mississippi today brings chilly mornings above the 40th parallel, and the weather complements the shift in foliage coloration taking place across the countryside.

Sept. 16: Nearly 200 species of birds have begun to leave the state by the third week of September. Only about 60 remain, and those will be on their way at the close of October.

By that time, the signs will be unmistakable. Insects will be disappearing. All of the wildflowers except a few asters, goldenrod, Queen Anne’s lace and chicory will have gone to seed. Leaf color will have peaked.

Sept. 17: When cobwebs are all over the woods and butterflies multiply in the garden, that’s the time to plant your last lettuce and radishes of the year, and complete the harvest of summer apples.

Sept. 18: When the day’s length falls below 12 hours, then the sugar beet, pear, cabbage and cauliflower harvests commence in the Great Lakes region.

Sept. 19: When the leaves of the burning bush are deep scarlet, then snow becomes a possibility in the northern tier of states.

Countdown to middle fall
Sept. 10: Silver olive foliage has streaks of ocher.

Sept. 20: Ashes suddenly start their autumn transformation, some becoming maroon, others gold.

Sept. 25: Black walnuts are completely bare. Crab apples are thinning. Hackberries pace the catalpas. Color spreads across the red maples. Blush appears on the sweet gums. Ashes have lost all their green. Box elders are shedding.

Living with the seasons
As early fall progresses, changes in barometric pressure begin to become more pronounced, bringing chillier nights and cooler days. The barometric extremes, along with the cold, often break the psychological stagnation many people experience throughout the steady heat and humidity of late summer. For those people, the higher the barometer climbs, the higher their spirits and energy climb.

(Please refer to the newspaper for the remaining portion.)