July 9-15, 2012 The ground, the trees, the air and our own selves are indeed connected. Shaped by the same universal force, each sustains the whole in a grand symphony of creation. -Adrian Bejan
Lunar phase and lore The Firefly Moon wanes throughout next week, entering its last quarter on July 10 at 8:48 p.m. and becoming the new Monarch Butterfly Moon at 11:24 p.m. July 18. Rising at night and setting in the middle of the day, this moon is overhead early in the morning. Lunar position favors morning fishing (but troublesome dieting), most notably as the July 14 cool front pushes down the barometric pressure before its arrival. The moon’s passage through Taurus July 11-14 should help fall root crops to thrive in the hot months ahead and, as the moon wanes, summer seasonal affective disorders should lighten up just a little.
New moon on July 18, however, could make children, partners, pets and livestock more difficult to handle.
Weather patterns The Corn Tassel Rains, which typically begin at the end of June, often continue through the period, and temperatures, which sometimes cool a little during the first days of July, grow warmer. Nighttime lows typically remain in the 60s, but chilly 50s occur an average of 15 percent of the time.
Once the July 14 weather system passes through, conditions are more likely to be dry than wet. Often, heat intensifies. Temperatures are in the 80s and 90s most of the time, and highs above 100 are more likely to occur on July 15-16 than any other days of the year.
New moon on July 18 is likely to cause unsettled conditions and higher-than-average tides between this front and the next. Zeitgebers of next week include wheat fields cut and bare, and thistledown spreading across the countryside.
Daybook July 9: Milkweed pods are emerging; they will burst at the approach of middle fall, just 90 days from now. Throughout the whole country, more wildflowers blossom now than at any other time of year.
July 10: Morning birdsong continues to diminish, making way for the increase of insect volume. Lamb’s ear flowering season closes as the first giant burdock blooms along roadsides.
July 11: Include the mums in your summer care; offer them a little extra food now for extra blossoms in September. Watch for brown spots in the lawn, signs of the sod webworm. Give plenty of water to the infected areas, and treat with pyrethrums.
July 12: New generations of crickets are born; they will start their chorus at the close of middle summer, just two weeks away. New cabbage butterflies cluster on the lavender and purple loosestrife. Wood nettle and touch-me-nots dominate the darker woods. Ironweed has purple bud clusters.
Robin calls become quiet clucking sounds. Red and violet bee balm and the mallows pass their peak. Rose hips are forming on the wild roses; if you have those prolific shrubs on your property, ration out their fruits to your does and ewes. Many people say that there is no better plant for keeping your animals’ reproductive system healthy. July 13: Lots of fruit to eat and sell this month: late black raspberries, the last mulberries, early elderberries, the first wave of summer apples, the first wave of peaches and maybe even some blackberries and wild grapes.
July 14: San Jose scale and flathead borers are active on flowering fruit trees. In the woodlot, walnut caterpillars assault walnut trees. The coming week of July is often the driest of the month, favorable for cutting wheat, oats and hay. On the other hand, it is the week most likely to intensify drought and damage corn.
July 15: When you see seedpods fully formed on the trumpet creepers and green berries on the poison ivy, and when white vervain blossoms reach the end of their spikes, then listen for katydids to begin shouting “Katy-did” after dark.
Poor Will is once again holding the Almanack outhouse story contest; funny stories are best, and length should be less than 300 words. There are cash prizes, and this contest is open through Aug. 1. Send your tales to: Poor Will, P.O. Box 431, Yellow Springs, OH 45387, or email them to wlfelker @gmail.com Listen to Poor Will’s radio Almanack on podcast any time at www.wyso.org and follow him on Twitter at @poor wilsalmanac |
