The entire land sets out to work,

All beasts browse in the fields.

Trees, herbs are sprouting. – Egyptian hymn

The Moon and the Sun in the Final Week of Late Winter

The Mourning Dove Moon waxed full on Feb. 16 at 11:56 a.m. then wanes throughout the remainder of the month. Rising in the evening and setting in the morning, this moon passes overhead in the middle of the night. Expect children and animals to be most active (and feed more) at midday and midnight. Take advantage of the approach of the dropping barometer to go fishing after the Feb. 15 cold front has moved well into the East and when the Feb. 20 cold front approaches.

On the 18th day of the year’s second month, the sun reaches Cross-Quarter Day, the halfway point to equinox, entering Pisces at the same time and initiating the season of Early Spring, a six-week period of changeable conditions infiltrated ever so slowly by warmer and warmer temperatures that finally bring the first trees and the earliest bulbs to bloom.

Weather Trends

Throughout the region, early spring fills the six weeks between the middle of February and the end March. This period links the deep winter cold with the lushness of April, and it is made up of constellations of color, motion, sound, and of new sprouts and leaves, birds, insects, mammals and fishes. In the Deep South, this season can arrive in the middle of the year’s first weeks; along the Canadian border, it comes in May. Here in the lower Midwest, it arrives today.

Sap should have begun to flow as the weather warmed up after full moon on the 16th. These are often mild days everywhere in the United States, and when the gentle days are accompanied by nights below freezing, they may be ideal for tapping trees.

Zeitgebers

 (Events in Nature that Tell the Time of Year)

Weather patterns at this time of year encourage bird migrations of robins and bluebirds. From this point forward, watch for a change of visitors to your bird feeders.

When you see the first snowdrops and aconites flowering together in the warmest microclimates beside prophetic hellebores (Lenten roses), you will know that skunk cabbage is blossoming in the swamps.

When you see earthworms coming out of hiding and crossing sidewalks and roads in the mild night rains, then you know it is salamander mating season in the slime and snake basking season in the sun.

And when you see common chickweed and henbit budding in the alley or garden, you can be sure the female red-winged blackbirds will soon be arriving from the South.

In the Field and Garden

When the moon wanes through its third quarter (Feb. 17-26), be ready for your animals to give birth up to a week early. The third-quarter moon is also associated with abortions in livestock.

When you see the first dandelion in bloom, force branches from flowering trees and inspect preserved food for spoilage. Test your field and garden soil and prepare to spread fertilizer as conditions permit.

When you hear spring peepers peeping, complete all winter pruning, and seed cold frames with lettuce, chard and spinach.

Passover takes place April 15-23. The Jewish market typically is best after religious holidays come to a close. Lamb stew is a traditional Seder dish at Passover Seder dinners.

And the Easter Market is in high gear now. Roman Easter is April 17, Orthodox Easter April 24.

ALMANACK CLASSICS

Bob Brings ‘em Home

By Shawna Eubanks

Blair, Okla.

Way back in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, Mom had Bob. Bob was a large, solid black dog with a bit of white on some toes, his lower lip and a naturally bobbed tail. He was Australian Shepherd and I swear, part Werewolf. He was so gentle with the lambs, tough with the ewes and was loyal as the day is long, to Mom. He loved her and he deemed it his job to work his best for her and to protect her. He was HER dog, not Dad’s, not mine or my sisters, but MOM’S dog.

Working sheep, Bob was Mom’s right paw. Those big Columbia ewes learned quick that what Bob said was the Gospel. I saw a big ewe half jump over him, half run him down one morning while we were feeding. She got him down in the tire ruts, in the mud, and trampled him really good. She was escaping from the corral and into the yard. Bob jumped up, face covered in mud, brilliant white teeth bared, deep growls emitting from his throat and a look on his face that showed his Werewolf side. He ran that ewe down, turned her around and ran her back into the corral. When his task was completed, he looked over to Mom for approval. “Good boy Bob!” were those three magical words that made Bob all wiggles. He was very proud of himself and rightly so.

One summer afternoon, we happened to be in the house. The living room window looked to the County Road about 100 feet from the house. I was gazing out the window, daydreaming teenage dreams when something caught my eye. “What in the world?” I asked aloud. I could not believe what I was seeing. “MOM! COME QUICK! You have got to see this!” I hollered at Mom. She ran to the window. I pointed to the road, my mouth wide open in awe. There was Bob, on the edge of the road and he was not alone. He was bringing home the bum lambs that had escaped the pasture. Oh, it was a spectacular sight to see. The lambs ambling happily along, snatching bites of grass to eat, with Bob behind them. He was doing a great job and kept a watchful eye on the road and his wooly buddies. His bob tail was up and ears were pricked and eyes scanning the road and the lambs, as he looked toward the house. I swear I saw him smile as well. Mom was all smiles. That was HER dog and what a good dog he was. He was bringing her lambs home, safe and sound.

We ran outside to open the gate to the pasture for Bob. He kept those lambs going, gently and herded them thru the gate. When the last lamb trotted thru the gate, Bob wagged his tail, watched the lambs for a few seconds more then went to Mom and sat down next to her. He looked up at her, his eyes full of love and content as she showered him with pats and lots of “Good boy Bob! Good Boy!”

That one particular day was just one of many with Bob. We all talk about that day quite often and marvel at the task Bob took upon himself. He and Mom shared many, many adventures together, including a pickup wreck. Bob was smart, funny and quirky all rolled into one. That is what makes a great dog and what makes us miss them so badly when they have to leave us.

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Poor Will’s Almanack pays $5 for stories used in this column. Send your stories to Poor Will, P.O. Box 431, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387

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Poor Will’s Almanack for 2022 is still available, containing the S.A.D. Index, as well as natural history essays for each week of the year, monthly weather reports, some of the best reader stories of all time, and a monthly farm and garden calendar. Purchase your copy from Amazon or, for an autographed Almanack, order from www.poorwillsalmanack.com. Or send $22 to Poor Will, P.O. Box 431, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387.

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