Measure the Harvest,
The Hours of Sunlight.
- Celtus
In the Sky
Phases of the Sycamore Bark Falling Moon and the Ant Migration Moon
July 5: The Sycamore Bark Falling Moon is new.
July 14: The moon enters its second quarter.
July 21: The moon is full.
July 27: The moon enters its final quarter.
Aug. 4: The Great Ant Migration Moon is new.
Aug. 12: The moon enters its second quarter.
Aug. 19: The moon is full.
Aug. 26: The moon enters its final quarter.
Weather Trends
The Dog Days ordinarily continue this week of the year, with the daily possibility of high temperatures in the 80s and 90s remaining near July levels. However, Aug. 3-5 are the last days of the summer on which there is a 40 percent chance of highs in the 90s, and chances of highs in the 80s are steady at around 50 percent.
Cool days do occur 15 to 25 percent of the years, and afternoons only in the 60s are occasionally recorded between Aug. 2 and 11. Morning lows are typically in the 60s, although one fourth of the nights carry temperatures in the middle 50s. Lunar perigee and the new moon early this week will contribute to pulling the mercury to the 50s or below in many areas along and above the 40th Parallel.
The Natural Calendar
The stability of Deep Summer begins to deteriorate throughout the whole nation. The advance of winter is seen first in lower night-time temperatures, and then, not long afterward, in lower daytime highs.
Asiatic lilies and day lilies disappear in the garden as red, white and purple phlox time unfolds. Blueweed, white vervain, motherwort and white sweet clover end their seasons. Petals of the hobblebush darken. Parsnip heads, honewort pods and sweet cicely pods are dry enough to split and spill their seed. A few inches above last year’s layer of leaves, the foliage of spring’s ginger, waterleaf, and bloodroot lingers as a low, intermittent canopy, replacing the common chickweed that dominated the forest floor in spring.
The transition to Late Deep Summer, like the transition from Late Spring to Early Summer, intensifies the effect of heat, humidity and landscape on the mind and body. Those who have trouble with high temperatures often tend to stay indoors too much and experience mid-year Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.).
The Allergy Index
Most of the pollen in the air this month comes from ragweed. Here is the estimated August pollen count (On a scale of 0-700 grains per cubic meter):
Aug. 1: 35
Aug. 5: 40
Aug. 10: 50
Aug. 15: 85
Aug. 20: 160
Aug. 25: 200
Aug. 30: 300.
Estimated August Mold Count (On a scale of 0-7,000 grains per cubic meter):
Aug. 1: 4,000
Aug. 5: 4,800
Aug.10: 6,000
Aug. 15: 4,000
Aug. 20: 4,800
Aug. 25: 5,100
Aug. 30: 5,500.
In the Field and Garden
Make corrective lime and fertilizer applications for August and September seeding. Keep carrots, oats, bran, iodized salt and good greens on hand to invigorate bucks as the breeding season opens.
As the moon waxes after the 4th, set out cabbage, kale and collard sets. Seed the lawn. Check the weight of animals scheduled to be bred and adjust feed as needed.
Don’t let your ducklings get heat stroke. Keep them in the shade and have plenty of water available. If a duck is panting, s/he may have heatstroke.
Many ethnic holidays occur in the autumn: think about selling lambs and kids to these markets.
Journal
The Pulse of the Earth - High Pressure Systems
Major high pressure systems cross the United States an average of once every five to six days, and 60 to 65 systems pass through the Ohio Valley in a year. Fronts move more quickly in the colder months; October through March can bring up to eight waves of high pressure every 30 days. The warmer months between April and September are more likely to have six or fewer fronts; June, July and August sometimes only produce two or three significant systems.
This regular pulse that characterizes the planet’s atmosphere was first recorded in detail by 16th century almanacs. It still forms the basis for annual predictions in today’s commercial almanacs, and can be used by anyone who keeps a weather journal to gauge the likelihood for rain or sun, heat or cold on any given day.
Within the rhythm of the earth’s breath across the countryside, there are seasonal shifts that occur at certain predictable intervals. The fifth front of the year, for example, is often followed by pleasant weather, the January thaw. The last high pressure bank of January is also relatively mild, bringing a warm-up near Groundhog Day. Early Spring, when pussy willows start pushing out and snowdrops bloom, arrives after the eleventh cold front of the year near Feb. 15.
Every season turns on a specific weather milestone which develops at a specific time and is predictable within a couple of days. Changes in plants, animals and even people keep pace with those events and can be measured by them. The weather year unfolds then as a dynamic metronome, a resource of cadence and balance.
Bill Felker lives with his wife in Yellow Springs. His “Poor Will’s Almanack” airs on his weekly NPR radio segment on WYSO-FM (91.3).
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