Setting the stage for the sighting of ‘firsts’

The stormy March is come at last

With wind, and cloud, and changing skies.

— William Cullen Bryant

In the sky

The moon: The Snowdrop and Aconite Moon, which entered its second quarter on Feb. 27, waxes throughout the week, becoming completely full at 7:42 a.m. on March 7. Rising in the evening and setting in the morning, this moon passes overhead in the middle of the night. Lunar apogee, when the moon is farthest from Earth, occurred on March 3.

The sun: On March 3, the sun reached a full 70% of the way to equinox. Now sunrise is an hour earlier than it was at the beginning of January, and the sun goes down a little more than a quarter of an hour later than it did then.

The planets: Mars remains in Taurus during March, well into the western sky before dawn. Saturn shines in Aquarius, but it is difficult to view near sundown in the southwest.

The stars: One way to measure spring and summer time is to identify and watch the constellation of Libra. It is shaped like a trapezoid, and it lies in the southeast after dark in March. In May, you can find Libra due south at bedtime. By the middle of July, it has traveled all the way into the far southwest. By the middle of August, it is lost in the sunset.

Weather trends

The waxing moon creates lunar conditions that strengthen the first cold fronts of March, increasing the likelihood of snow in the North and tornadoes in the South, bringing March in like a lion.

After the full moon, major March weather systems usually cross the Mississippi River on March 9, 14, 19 (frequently the second-coldest front of March), 24 (often followed by the best weather so far in the year) and 29.

Major storms are most likely to occur on the days between March 9 and 14, between March 19 and 30. The new moon on March 21 is likely to cool the last week of the month, increasing the likelihood of snow.

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.

Now 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 the migration of gulls, woodcocks, song sparrows, grackles and robins. In lakes and rivers, walleye, sauger, saugeye, muskie, bass and crappie start spring feeding.

In the field and garden

Onion seeds and sets, potatoes, radishes, beets, carrots and turnips can be sown directly in the ground anytime between now and new moon on March 21. 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.

Complete the spraying of fruit trees. Tomatoes could be ready to set out on May 10 if you start them under lights this week. There is still time to add fertilizer to maximize your grazing and hay production. Plan your pasture rotation, testing and worming schedules.

Seed the lawn.

Worm livestock before your turn them out to pasture. Schedule health certificate examinations for animals you intend to show or sell. With the powerful full moon on March 7, watch for abortions in weak animals.

Mind and body

March is associated with gradually rising body temperatures in humans and livestock, bodies apparently adjusting to the warming of the outside world. Along with a slight change in your temperature, 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, 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.

Countdown to spring

■ One week to the beginning of the morning robin chorus before sunrise.

■ Two weeks to daffodil season and silver maple blooming season and the first golden goldfinches.

■ Three weeks to tulip season and the first wave of blooming woodland wildflowers and the first butterflies.

■ Four weeks until golden forsythia blooms and skunk cabbage sends out its first leaves and the lawn is long enough to cut.

■ Five weeks until American toads sing their mating songs in the dark and corn planting time begins.

■ Six weeks until the Great Dandelion and Violet Bloom and the peak of wildflower season begin.

■ Seven weeks until all the fruit trees flower.

■ Eight weeks to the first rhubarb pie.

■ Nine weeks to the first cricket song of late spring.

■ 10 weeks to the great warbler migration through the Lower Midwest.