Go light.
— Gary Snyder, from “For the Children”
The Almanack Horoscope
Moon Time: Mock Orange Moon waxes throughout the period, entering its second quarter at 9:42 p.m. on May 2. Rising in the morning and setting in the evening, this moon passes overhead in the afternoon.
Sun Time: Late Spring is pushing the land toward summer. The sun reaches a declination of 15 degrees on May 1; that's a little over 60 percent of the way to summer solstice.
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Star Time: Now Spica is the star of May nights, Virgo above it, Corvus below. Libra is becoming more prominent in the southeast, Lupus below it, Sagittarius behind it. Arcturus moves overhead, announcing the close of frost season in the Lower Midwest. A star chart or an on-line map of the stars should help you find all of these.
Shooting Star Time: The Eta Aquarid shower appears across the southeast in Pegasus after midnight between April 20 and May 20. The moon will provide the darkest skies for meteor watching in the first days of May.
RELATED: Springfield weather
Weather Time: Between May 1 and June 1, only a few mornings of light frost occur in this part of the country. Chances for freezing temperatures after the dates listed below are: May l: 45 percent; May 5: 35 percent; May 10: 25 percent; May 15: 15 percent; May 20: 10 percent; May 25: 5 percent; May 31: 2 percent
The April 28 Front: In advance of this first front of late spring, highs in the 90s become possible as far north as Chicago, and the chances for a high in the 80s pass the 20 percent mark at lower elevations along the 40th Parallel. The warmth, however, comes at the cost of rain five years in 10, and the last days of April are typically some of the wettest days of the fourth month's fourth week.
The May 2 Front: The first three days of May are frequently marked by a "Lilac Winter" high-pressure system that chills one of the most fragrant times of the year.
Zeitgebers: Events in Nature that Tell the Time of Year: Another favorable horoscope for you: Late Spring arrives this week. Bluebell, toad trillium, bellwort, meadow rue, ragwort, columbine, white violet, winter cress, small-flowered buttercup, large-flowered trillium, wood betony, miterwort, jack-in-the-pulpit and rue anemone are flowering. Wild phlox, wild geranium, wild ginger, celandine, spring cress, sedum, golden Alexander, thyme-leafed speedwell, garlic mustard, and common fleabane are budding.
Lilacs are in full bloom, the peonies are budding, maples are leafing out, buckeyes come into full bloom, and dandelions have gone to seed. The tree line is alive either with new pale leaves or orange buds and gold flowers. There are buds on the black raspberries and honeysuckles, mock orange, and mulberries. Dogwood blossoms take over after the redbud flowers have gone.
ERIC ELWELL: Mobile phones aiding in weather forecasting
Yellow-flowered wood sorrel blossoms in the yard and garden, telling you to look for ruby-throated hummingbirds to arrive at your feeders. When you see redbud trees getting seedpods, then go looking for horseshoe crabs mating along the Atlantic coastline. Or listen for the first crickets of the year singing in a field near your house.
Farm and Garden Time: The dark moon favors traditional worm control methods such as liming the pasture, planting garlic, and plowing in mustard.
In the fields, fight armyworms, cutworms, sod webworms and corn borers. Attack carpenter bees around the barn and weevils in the alfalfa.
When buds appear on black raspberries, mock orange and mulberries, then soybean planting is in full swing, and when you see the pink spirea in bloom, then lettuce and radishes should be big enough for salad. When lilacs reach full bloom, then look for the first lilac borers to emerge. The peach tree borers will be coming soon, too.
Marketing Time: Ramadan begins on May 27. Plan now to market lambs and kids to the halal market at the close of this period, June 25.
Mind and Body Time: Your nature-based horoscope is outstanding this week: By this point in the solar year, almost all signs of seasonal affective disorders have disappeared from most people (as long as they stay outside more than 30 minutes each day). The day's length and the increased average amount of sunshine combine with the gradual warming temperatures to create almost ideal psychological conditions. Staying indoors, however, can contribute to higher stress levels: the body wants to be outside; don't hold it back!
Creature Time (for fishing, hunting, feeding, bird watching): The moon will be overhead in the afternoon this week, giving the after-lunch period improved chances to bring you luck on the water and in the woods (if you are looking for turkeys). For even better luck, try the days prior to the arrival of the April 28 and May 2 cool fronts. Birders might see the rare sandpipers and thrushes and should be scouting the woods for the great May migration of warblers.
Journal
Peter reports: “First hummingbird on the feeder right outside our kitchen window.” This is just a day later than the one sighted by Ruth in 2008 and three days before Rebecca’s in 1986.
Along the north border of the yard, Joe Pye plants are just emerging. Near Jeanie’s fern garden: sweet Cicely is coming in, and honeysuckles have budded.
Leaving the house with Jill at about 7 this evening, I saw that the first wild geranium and the very first red azalea blossom had opened in the dooryard garden (and some azaleas down the street completely covered with pink blossoms).
Walking home at dusk, I heard robins and cardinals at vespers. When I arrived home, I found the first June bug under the porch light. Peter also reported his first June bug tonight.
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