Second week of spring: Venus appears as the evening star
major snowstorm of the first half of the year sometimes strikes the Miami Valley today.
The Natural Calendar: Frequency becomes a new marker of change as March begins. The first stage in the progress of spring is the sighting of “firsts”: first bluebird, first robin, and so forth. After that, quantity counts as much as much as novelty. The number of robins, the number of blackbirds, the number of blooming bulbs, the number of pussy willow catkins emerging take on more and more importance until the next stage of the year arrives, the stage at which all the old first creatures and events are commonplace and give way to new firsts and new quantities.
Fish, Game, Livestock and Birds: Winter juncos migrate north for breeding. Male red-winged blackbirds (that arrived about two weeks ago) sing in the swamps as females join them in their nesting areas. Upcoming abrupt changes in weather will encourage migration of gulls, woodcocks, song sparrows, grackles and robins.
In lakes and rivers, walleye, sauger, saugeye, muskie, bass and crappie start spring feeding. Since the Moon will be overhead in the middle of the night, its most favorable position for angling, try a little midnight fishing, and then go out at noon, the second most favorable time – especially while the barometer is dropping in advance of the March 5 and 9 cold fronts.
In the Field and Garden: Onions seeds and sets, potatoes, radishes, beets, carrots and turnips can be sown directly in the ground anytime between now and new Moon on March 17. By now, all bedding plants should be started in their flats. Only eleven weeks remain before the most delicate flowers and vegetables can be planted outside. Four weeks until most hardy plants can be set out.
Marketing Notes: Easter is only a month away. If you raise sheep or goats, the “Easter Market” has begun, and demand rises for young kids and lambs.
The Almanack Horoscope: March is associated with gradually rising body temperatures in humans and livestock, most bodies apparently adjusting to the warming of the outside world. Also, you may need less sleep and less food than you required during the winter months. Dieting plans that failed during the darkness of January may now succeed, especially if you wake up earlier, and get right to work on chores or exercising. As the Moon wanes toward its fourth quarter after March 2, seasonal stress related to lunar position should decline, and the increasing likelihood of spring-like events, along with the lengthening days, augurs well for positive feelings.
Journal
March 4, 2010: Woke up to a clear moon setting into the dark blue sky, then the sun came up and stayed out. Even though the temperature was in the teens before daylight, the next few days are supposed to bring the first big thaw since Groundhog Day! Cardinals and doves sang early.
In the yard, snowdrops were budded through the snow, one hellebore stalk had fat buds, a few pussy willow tips were showing, and foliage of motherwort, wild strawberry, deadnettle, ground ivy and primrose was stretching a little into the daylight. Wild onions were unraveling after having been pushed down by the snow. The snow has retreated away from the sidewalk on both sides, leaving a remnant of the straight banks that had been cut in when I was shoveling. The driveway is still icy, but some of the gravel is showing through.
Tulips were up an inch, the leaves tight and red, some daffodils at the west edge of the yard were up a full three inches, and many were budded. With so much of the world in place, all manner of things are well! Poor Will’s Almanack for 2018 is still available. Order yours from Amazon, or, for an autographed copy, order from www.poorwillsalmanack. com. You can also purchase Bill Felker’s new book of essays,“Home is the Prime Meridian,” from those websites.