April 30-May 6, 2018 For nothing exists nor happens in the visible sky that is not sensed in some hidden manner by the faculties of Earth and Nature. -Johannes Kepler Almanac horoscope The Swarming Termite Moon wanes throughout the period, reaching its benign position farthest from Earth on 7:35 p.m. on May 5, and then entering its last quarter at 9:08 p.m. on May 7. Rising at night and setting in the morning, this moon passes overhead before dawn. On May 9, the Sun reaches three-quarters of the way to summer solstice. Now in Capricorn, Mars rises after midnight and moves into the southern sky before dawn. Orion has disappeared from the night sky, a sign that middle spring is turning to late spring. Without Orion, one way to view the warmer months of the year is to keep track of the boxy formation of Libra in the southwest, followed by the scorpion-like constellation of Scorpius. Watch them move across the southern sky throughout the summer. The Eta Aquarid meteors are active through May 28, with the most expected on May 7-8. The moon should not interfere with meteor-watching. So many things may affect your mood: the moon is darkening, but still bright before dawn (good for getting up early); the high canopy of leaves is filling in, changing the entire aspect of the landscape; different trees bloom, offering new possibilities for allergies; and the weather continues to warm and the day is almost summer-long. The progress of the season is so dramatic this time of year that people sometimes feel they are getting left behind. In winter, it is easy to tell yourself you have plenty of time to meet your goals. When spring comes, however, you may feel pressured to fulfill all the promises you made to yourself back in January, February or March. Clearly, you might make a new list of things to do – scaled back and more realistic. Weather trends Average highs rise into the upper 60s this week, and average lows reach the upper 40s. The last time averages were so warm was the first week of October, and the chances for an afternoon in the 80s are now twice what they were only a few days ago. Five to six days for field and garden work are the rule this week, since rainfall is often the lowest of the month. But the May 7 weather system is often a prelude to the dangerous May 10 front; both of these fronts sometimes bring frost or even snow deep into the border states. The natural calendar: Under the closing canopy, phlox and ragwort are purple and gold. May apples and spring cress flower. Wild ginger, meadow rue, bellwort, bluets, Jack-in-the pulpit, nodding trillium, larkspur and thyme-leafed speedwell are still blossoming. The sticky catchweed replaces chickweed. Thyme and horseradish open in the garden. Lily-of-the-valley and star of Bethlehem push out from their buds. Red horse chestnut trees and buckeye trees and Osage orange come in. Oak and elm leaves are at least half-size. Some maples are fully leafed, others just starting, some dropping seeds. The high tree line is completely alive all across the county, either with new glowing foliage or with orange buds or golden flowers. Field and garden Some orchard grass and rye are ready to harvest, in an average year. Winter wheat is typically 4-8 inches high. Spring pasture now reaches its brightest green of the year, and haying is underway in the southern states. The cutting will move toward the Canadian border at the rate of about 100 miles a week, and it will be taking place almost everywhere by the middle of June. Plant the rest of your root crops as the moon darkens, and don’t forget your soybeans. Marketing notes: Prepare to sell Mother’s Day (May 13) flowers throughout the week. Ramadan will end on June 14: Explore the halal market for your lambs and kids. Fish, livestock, insects and birds: The first cool front of May coincides with the darkening moon, and it is a good marker for spring worming, weaning lambs and kids, clipping feet and dipping for external parasites. In the fields, fight armyworms and corn borers. Attack carpenter bees around the barn. Iris borers hatch now; check the iris roots. Weevils may be emerging in the alfalfa. Most creatures are more active as the barometer falls in advance of cold fronts due May 2, 7 and 12. Activity may increase when the moon passes overhead in the morning, as well as at moonrise and moonset. Birders may sight willets, nighthawks, Eastern kingbirds, catbirds and a great wave of all kinds of warblers and vireos. Almanac classics A Plague of Frogs By Bonnie Gullett Greenwich, Ohio This is a frog story that happened about 15 years ago. It was after one very cold winter. The pond behind my home froze so solid that winter that the fish all died. In mid-summer, I went out into my back lawn a few steps and thought my head was swimming. I was afraid to step for fear of falling. It looked like the whole earth was moving beneath my feet. Then I saw what was the matter: Frogs about the size of a quarter were so thick that they were almost tumbling over each other. The first thought that came to me was the plague of frogs in the Bible. I hollered to my neighbor: “What’s going on?” He said there were no fish in the pond to eat the frog eggs, so they hatched and came out onto the ground. An Ohio worm verse March 5-11 was Singing Worm Week, and Jean Nonnamaker of Bluffton, Ohio, responded to Poor Will’s call for celebratory verses. And she received a check of $2 for her trouble! Singing Fishworms In their holes worms must sing It must have a certain ring. A robin stands and cocks its head Waiting to be instantly fed. The worms’ singing gives them away, Ending what started out a perfect day! |
