May 31–June 6, 2010

To be creative, man must relate to nature with his senses as much as with his common sense, with his heart as much as with knowledge. He must read the book of external nature and the book of his own nature, to discern the common patterns and harmonies.

-Rene Dubos
Lunar phase and lore

The Duckling and Gosling Moon wanes throughout the period, entering its final quarter at 5:13 p.m. on June 4.

Since the moon exerts less influence on ocean tides and on human and animal behavior when it comes into its second and fourth quarters, you might perform routine maintenance on your livestock on or about June 4 and 18.

On the other hand, tidal lunar influences have been proven to be greater at full moon and new moon times. You might expect more trouble with your herd or flock, therefore, on or about June 12 and 26.

With the moon overhead in the morning this week, plan to take advantage of lunar position by fishing before, during and after breakfast. Dieters should expect that doughnuts will be especially appealing throughout the period (but not necessarily to fish). The approach of cool fronts on June 2 and 6 will make the days prior to those weather systems better for fishing, worse for dieting.

Weather patterns

Normal highs keep advancing at the rate of three degrees a week, reaching within a few degrees of 80 by June 1. Nighttime lows are in the mid-50s, perfect for sleeping with the windows open. On the other hand, a low in the 30s is more likely (10 percent likely) to occur on the morning of June 5 than on any other June morning, and it is the last time that temperatures so cold can be expected until Sept. 6.

Daybook

May 31: Winter wheat is golden in the South. Blueberries are setting fruit in the Northeast. In gardens along the Ohio River, squash bugs and Japanese beetles are out in force, and Eastern tent caterpillars attack the trees.

June 1: After the first cool front of June weakens, chances for highs in the cool 60s along the 40th Parallel fall to only 15 percent, and 50s are rare. And the chances of highs in the 90s are now 10 percent per day.

June 2: Mulberry season begins for both the red and white varieties, and it typically lasts until the end of early summer – good for birds and good for pies! Soybeans are ordinarily three-fourths planted, and half the crop has usually emerged.

June 3: Canada geese are molting, now that all of their goslings have hatched. Mother grackles and robins are cleaning their nests, often depositing the white droppings of their babies in your birdbath or pond.

June 4: The moon enters its final quarter today, perfect for hunting thistles and bugs and for pulling weeds. Throughout the coming week, check the cucumbers for cucumber beetles. Inspect the lawn for chinch bugs. Look for powdery mildew on the phlox. Spray for potato leafhoppers in the alfalfa, and hunt mites in the roses. Go after bean-leaf beetles in the fields.

June 5: Strawberries peak in the mid-Atlantic states, but are thinning in the southern half of the nation as black raspberries start their season in Kentucky and Tennessee. Consider putting in double-crop soybeans after the wheat is cut. Be alert for lameness in your flock, and then check for foot rot, especially if the weather has been rainy and the pastures and runs are muddy (most likely to occur in the first and last week of June).

June 6: The low-pressure system that precedes the June 6 cool wave initiates a four-day period during which there is an increased chance for tornadoes and flash floods.

Count down to mid-summer

Count down the four weeks of early summer with the following guidelines:

Week 1: Thistles are in bloom, winter wheat is turning pale gold-green throughout the countryside, and haying is under way all around you.

Week 2: Hollyhocks and purple coneflowers open in the dooryards, and blue chicory flowers in the waysides.

Week 3: Chiggers bite in the woods and Japanese beetles attack roses. Red berries show on the honeysuckles, and black raspberries ripen in the brambles.

Week 4: Sycamore trees shed their bark, the first thistle down floats across the fields, and golden-brown wheat is being harvested throughout the region.

Living with the seasons

The moon weakens throughout the period, helping to make the transition to early summer a gentle one. Although this time of year is often full of other transitions (such as either memories or the actuality of graduation, vacation, changes in routine, or the ending of a school romance), the typically mild weather offers balance for unsettled emotions. So much of the year still lies ahead, even if you have gotten off to a late start. The landscape itself is a lesson in optimism.

Almanac literature
The Squirrel and the Cell Phone
By James Cotton
Creston, Ohio

My 14-year-old grandson went squirrel hunting a year ago. The squirrel – not wanting to be shot – kept a limb between it and my grandson.

This did not make the boy happy. Finally he shot, and down came the limb and squirrel. Both hit the ground, and the squirrel jumped up and ran to a hole in another tree. The grandson went over to the tree, and stuck his lighted cell phone into the hole. The squirrel bit the cell phone and hung on. My grandson pulled it out and killed the squirrel.

When my grandson was telling me this later, I thought he was pulling my leg until he showed me the cell phone. It was cracked and dented, but … surprise … it worked!

Poor Will pays $3 for any original, unusual animal or family story published in this column! In addition, Poor Will is putting together the Almanack for 2011, and he will pay an additional $7 for any story, which is accepted for that book – especially those that describe how animals have brought people together! Send your tale to Poor Will, P.O. Box 431, Yellow Springs, OH 45387. Don’t delay! The 2011 Almanack must be at the publisher by the middle of the summer!