Jan. 18-24, 2010
January observation can be almost as simple and peaceful as the snow, and almost as continuous as the cold. There is time not only to see who has done what, but to speculate why.
-Aldo Leopold
Lunar phase and lore The Skunk Cabbage Moon waxes into its second quarter on Jan. 23 at 5:53 a.m. The swelling moon not only encourages the sprouting of seeds, but also stimulates the sap to flow in maples. If the weather is mild, try tapping some of your trees next week.
Fish and feed fussy animals and people when the moon is overhead during the afternoon. Dieters should feel an extra urge to snack heavily during those hours, too.
Weather patterns The 10th of winter’s 16 major cold fronts usually arrives on Jan. 19, and it is typically followed by the January Thaw. Between Jan. 23-26, normal highs start to advance toward spring, breaking their mid-January stagnation and rising 1 degree throughout the region.
However, the 11th of winter’s 16 cold fronts usually arrives by Jan. 25, breaking up the January Thaw. The 12th weather system usually arrives by the last day of the month.
The Sun enters its sign of Aquarius on Jan. 20, ushering in late winter. On Jan. 25, the sun reaches a declination of 19 degrees, putting it at its mid-November noontime height, and marking more than 20 percent of the way to spring equinox.
Even though the weather remains wintry, sunset has become almost half an hour later than it was on New Year’s Eve, and sunrise is almost a quarter of an hour earlier.
At 10 p.m., Orion’s belt is centered in the southern sky, marking the last days of Deep Winter, as well as the pivot date for warming temperatures and the increase in migratory activity of birds north.
Almanac daybook Jan. 18: Apply fertilizer as growth begins on woody plants. Frost-seed oats and barley, too.
Jan. 19: Brown Asian ladybugs sometimes emerge on sunny windowsills this time of the month. They bring good luck; treat them well. And when the weather warms up, watch the skunk cabbage open in the sheltered swamps. You could even see a few flies there, too.
Jan. 20: As winter drags on, now is the time to force daffodils and tulips into bloom. The waxing moon could help them grow more quickly.
Jan. 21: Record temperatures jump above 70 at various northern locations today, signaling a rise in the statistical odds for milder conditions everywhere in the United States. Now look for the first opossums, raccoons and skunks at night.
Jan. 22: Zeitgebers for this week include the arrival of bluebirds, the appearance of the first snowdrop, day lily, crocus, daffodil and peony foliage, the rapid disappearance of the remaining orange euonymus berries and the last seeds of the small-flowered asters.
Jan. 23: As the moon enters its second quarter today, consider adding organic matter to the fields and garden. Winter fertilizing not only frees up time in the spring for the many farm and garden chores that follow warm weather, but it provides a modicum of insurance against spring rain delays. The frozen soil of winter also resists compaction from heavy equipment.
Jan. 24: The full onslaught of change now starts to ride over the much of the nation, the momentum building, pulling with the energy of the entire solar system back toward summer. Cardinals, which sang only sporadically through the most bitter weather, begin consistent mating calls half an hour before dawn from Jan. 24 or 25 onward.
By the end of the week, the first major waves of robins cross the Ohio River. And resident crows, sparrows, starlings and blue jays become more active, contributing to a substantial increase in the volume of morning birdsong.
Living with the seasons Early fall treatment for lice may not be enough to keep your herd or flock free from parasites this winter; be sure to check for re-infection. And pets may be scratching more. Consider a flea treatment before the weather grows warmer.
The S.A.D. Index falls from 71 (out of 75) on Jan. 20 to 67 by Jan. 26.
These are the days to reevaluate your hay supply for nutrient levels. Unless you know the quality of your forage, it is difficult to make sound management decisions concerning the amount of supplements to provide your animals. And – besides genes – nutrients are the most important part of developing your herd.
As the major lambing and kidding time approaches, have all your supplies on hand: heat lamp, blankets, disbudding boxes, nipple waterers, iodine or other disinfectant to treat the naval cord of newborns.
Turning lights on early and keeping them on after dark can help to keep your chickens eating for more hours in the day. If temperatures are relatively mild, hens could start laying, after molt, with about 13 hours of light – but use a low-wattage bulb.
Increase energy feeds to animals in unusually severe weather. Many people believe that feeding energy foods in the evening produces the best results. Try giving your children and parents extra energy foods then, too.
If you can find the Big Dipper at bedtime this month, you can keep time through the whole year by watching that constellation move around Polaris, the North Star.
These cold nights of January, the Dipper lies close to the northeastern horizon. Its pointers, the outside stars of its “cup,” point due west and mark the center of winter. As the Earth turns towards spring, the Big Dipper moves out toward the center of the heavens, and its pointers are aligned north-south just when daffodils bloom and the trees start to blossom in April.
Then when the Dipper has moved to the western side of Polaris, and its pointers are lying east-west, summer will have reached its zenith. When the Dipper lies along the northern horizon, pointing due south up at the North Star, the leaves will all be falling from the maples. And as the Dipper comes around east again, it brings winter with it once more.
Even though modern society offers its members many different ways to measure the passage of events, it can sometimes be reassuring to know that the source of all those measuring devices is simply the sky. Anyone who cares to look can see the foundation of time itself.
The Almanack will pay $3 for any original, unusual animal or family story. Send your tale to: Poor Will, P.O. Box 431, Yellow Springs, OH 45387. An extra $3 will be paid if the story is used in the annual Almanack for 2011.
Get ready for spring with Poor Will’s Almanack for 2010. Mail $16 (includes shipping and handling) for each copy to: Poor Will, P.O. Box 431, Yellow Springs, OH 45387. To order by credit card, visit http://poorwillsalmanack.com |
