May 14-20, 2012 Seeing is of course very much a matter of verbalization. Unless I call my attention to what passes before my eyes, I simply won’t see it. -Annie Dillard
Lunar phase and lore The Frog and Toad Mating Moon wanes throughout the period, becoming the Black Swallowtail Moon on May 20 at 6:46 p.m. Rising before the sun and setting in the afternoon, this moon lies overhead in the late morning.
Lunar position above fish, livestock, children and dieters encourages eating. This is most notably true when the barometer drops in advance of a cold wave (May 15 and 21). Dark moon throughout the period will be ideal for field planting of corn and soybeans, the seeding of all types of garden vegetables and flowers and landscape work, especially on May 18-20 in Taurus and May 23-25 in Cancer.
Weather patterns Temperatures are usually above 60 degrees this week, with the chances for 70s or better rising to 70 percent, a 10 percent increase over last week’s chances. Cold temperatures in the 50s occur rarely, but if they do appear, it is typically on May 21 and 24. Chances for frost are low. May 18, 19 and 22 are historically the wettest days in the period; May 20-21 are the least likely to bring precipitation.
Zeitgebers of this week include daddy longlegs in the flowerbeds and ducklings along the water. There are Northern Spring Field Crickets singing in the fields. Newly hatched doves and robins explore the honeysuckles.
Tadpoles grow legs and swim to deeper water. Typically, locust flowers appear in the high canopy, cedar waxwings and catbirds arrive, along with a monarch butterfly or two.
Daybook May 14: Be sure all building ventilation systems are in good order in preparation for summer heat. Water and salt should be ready for livestock. Heat stress can slow the rate of gain in your animals. Heat can also help you lose weight, but don’t get dehydrated. May 15: The middle of May typically brings the peak of honeysuckle, sweet William, privet and yellow poplar bloom. Pollen from grasses reaches its peak, as bluegrass, orchard grass, timothy, red top and Bermuda grass all continue to flower. May 16: In the woods, the seasons of gold-collared blackflies and green six-spotted tiger beetles have opened. When the high foliage is complete, then the last osage and black walnut flowers fall, clustered snakeroot hangs with pollen in the shade and parsnips take over the roadsides.
Rare swamp valerian blossoms by the water, and common timothy pushes up from its sheaths in all the alleyways.
May 17: Blackberry and black raspberry blooms announce the season of robin fledglings, white-spotted skippers and red admiral butterflies around the yard.
May 18: In the field and garden, plan to plant every remaining seed you have (for plants that produce their fruit above the ground) as the moon waxes between May 20 and the first week of June. May 19: Pheasant, grouse and turkey chicks appear along the fencerows. Half of the season’s new ducklings and goslings swim the creeks. Catfish, bullheads, northern pike, bluegills, largemouth and smallmouth bass, white bass, spotted bass, striped bass and crappies spawn when the water temperature reaches 65 degrees. May 20: When scorpion flies make their appearance in the barnyard, go looking for leafhoppers in the corn and cutworms in the garden. |
