Aug. 27-Sept. 2 The garden air is full of the sound of crickets, the year’s clock made audible, ticking off the days. -Robert Finch
Lunar phase and lore The Hickory Horned Devil Moon becomes the only full Blue Moon of 2012 on Aug. 31, at 8:58 a.m. Waning through its third quarter for the rest of the period, this moon rises in the evening and sets in the morning, moving overhead in the middle of the night.
Lunar position in Pisces from Aug. 30-Sept. 2 will favor the setting out of bulbs and the seeding of greens for October salads. Angling should be most fruitful at night, especially at the end of August when the cool front of Sept. 2 approaches from the west. Full moon on Aug. 31, of course, brings higher tides in the ocean and in the affairs of humans. Expect more problems at school and at work.
Venus keeps moving retrograde, coming into Cancer during September, rising several hours before sunup and moving far up into the eastern sky by dawn. Mars, traveling retrograde into Libra, continues to shine as the red star of evening in the west. Jupiter in Taurus is visible in the east by midnight, and is overhead when Venus dominates the eastern horizon. Saturn in Virgo lingers for a while along the western horizon after sunset. The Alpha Aurigid meteors fly across the sky between Aug. 28-Sept. 5.
The month’s weather
Weather history suggests that cold waves usually cross the Mississippi River on or about the following dates: Sept. 2, 8, 12, 15, 20, 24 and 29. Storms can occur prior to the passage of each major front. The period between Sept. 19-25 historically brings an increased chance for dangerous weather.
New moon on Sept. 15 and full moon Sept. 29 increase the likelihood of a hurricane coming ashore along the East Coast or the Gulf, or for a strong frost-bearing cold wave to move across the Plains around those dates.
The effects of the first September cold wave usually appear by Sept. 2, which is the first day since June 4 that 90s become unlikely. Then on Sept. 3, a 55 percent chance for highs only in the 70s, and the chances for a dangerous frost suddenly become 1 in 100 as far south as the Border States.
Sept. 4 is often cool, but warmer conditions typically return on Sept. 5-6. Nevertheless, the second high-pressure system of the month, which arrives between Sept. 5-11, has brought lows into the 30s, one year in 20. Zeitgebers next week include the blooming of violet autumn crocus, and the advent of fall apple time. Burrs from tick trefoil stick to your stockings when you wander off the trail. Lizard’s tail drops its leaves into the creeks and sloughs.
Frost watch
Percent chances for Light Frost and Killing Frost are as follows, respectively:
Sept. 1: 5, 0 Sept. 10: 10, 1 Sept. 15: 15, 2 Sept. 20: 30, 3 Sept. 25: 55, 5 Sept. 30: 80, 8
Holidays for homesteaders
Sept. 3, Labor Day – End-of-summer cookout chefs could be in the market for homesteaders’ lamb and chevon, not to mention sweet corn and tomatoes. Daybook
Aug. 27: When all the summer apples have been picked, then look for the first puffball mushroom of the year to swell in the cool, damp nights. And when you find your first puffball mushroom (big and white like a lost soccer ball) in the woods, then mallards will be migrating and farmers will be preparing their fields for winter wheat. Aug. 28: On the farm, pickle season is usually over, and peaches can be done for the year.
Grapes are coming in, and elderberries are deep purple, still sweet for picking. In an average year, about half of the tobacco has been cut, half of the commercial tomato crop has been picked and about a fourth of the potatoes dug.
Aug. 29: Flickers, redheaded woodpeckers, red-winged blackbirds, house wrens, scarlet tanagers, indigo buntings, Eastern bluebirds, robins and black ducks are moving south.
Aug. 30: If you are going to need more birthing pens for winter’s lambs and kids, build them while the weather is warm, and before birthing approaches. Of course, use your power tools away from your animals.
Aug. 31: Today’s full moon, the second of the month, makes it a Blue Moon and is likely to bring frost across the far northern tier of states. In this region, expect milder conditions and an increased chance for showers.
Sept. 1: Hickory nutting season opens as sweet corn time winds down. Beside the deer paths of the forests, the undergrowth is tattered and cluttered with the remnants of the year.
Sept. 2: The landmarks of July and August are disappearing. The purple teasel flowers have dried up. The late trefoils and wild cucumbers are already gone.
Poor Will is once again holding an outhouse story contest; length should be less than 300 words. This contest ends Sept. 1. Send your tales to: Poor Will, P.O. Box 431, Yellow Springs, OH 45387, or email wlfelker@gmail.com |
