Groundhogs begin to forage for greens as the weather warms

In the gardens, purple crocuses appeared — quite suddenly — and in the hills, small shoots of green rose among deadened stalks and branches. I sensed a rising feeling, a welling up, an expansiveness that filled up the dead spaces left by winter.

— Stephen Altschuler

Astronomical information

The Great Groundhog Moon wanes throughout the period, entering its final quarter on March 6 at 8:30 p.m. and then becoming the Robin Mating Chorus Moon on March 13 at 5:21 a.m. Rising before dawn and setting in the afternoon, this moon passes overhead in the late morning, encouraging creatures to be more active at that time, especially as the barometer falls in advance of the new moon cold front.

Three major planets rise in the east before dawn this March. First comes Jupiter, with Saturn close by, and then Venus appears just before the sun.

Weather trends

March’s second quarter brings a major pivot in the year’s weather patterns as the rate of Spring’s advance quickens. Odds for milder weather increase with every sunrise, and chances for an afternoon above 50 degrees rising to 40 percent by the end of the week.

Frost strikes the early garden 60 percent of all the nights, however, and there is still a five to ten percent chance each day this week for a high only in the 20s. The end of March’s second week, especially the 9th through the 14th (and with new moon on the 13th) brings an increased chance for extreme weather. Tornadoes struck Ohio during this period in 1917 and 1986, floods in 1907 and 1964. Deep cold invaded the Ohio Valley in 1948 and 1984.

Zeitgebers (Events in nature that tell the time of year)

Lupine leaves push out of the ground beside the snowdrops and aconites. The earliest blue squills blossom. Red maples flower. Crocus buds are opening, beginning the countdown to the last hard frost seven weeks away. Day lily spears are strong. Flocks of robins continue to move north, even in the coldest springs. When enough robins have arrived, they begin their mating chorus half an hour before sunrise.

Countdown to spring

■ One week to early daffodil season and silver maple blooming season

■ Two weeks to the first wave of blooming woodland wildflowers and the very first cabbage white butterflies

■ Three weeks until golden forsythia blossoms in town and skunk cabbage sends out its first leaves in the wetlands

■ Four weeks until the blooming of Middle Spring wildflowers in the woods

■ Five weeks until American toads sing their mating songs in the night.

■ Six weeks until the Great Dandelion and Violet Blossoming begins

■ Seven weeks until azaleas and snowball viburnums and dogwoods flower

■ Eight weeks until iris and poppies and daisies come into flower

■ Nine weeks until the beginning of clover bloom in yards and pastures

■ Ten weeks until the first orange day lily opens

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Mind and body

The S.A.D. Index, which measures seasonal stress on a scale from 1 to 100, falls throughout the period, declining from a high of 74 (under the influence of lunar perigee) at the beginning of March down to a more manageable 55 by the end of the first week of the month as the moon wanes. For full S.A.D. statistics, consult Poor Will’s Almanack for 2021.

In the field and garden

This is the earliest week along the 40th Parallel for planting most hardy vegetables directly in the garden. Oats, spring wheat, and ryegrass can also be put in for quick vegetative cover.

Fertilizer spread on lawn and field this month should have tine to dissolve in the ground before April or May planting. As the moon darkens, take extra care of your animals: trim feet, worm, and treat for fleas and ticks.

Some studies indicate that coyote activity increases as barometric pressure rises and decreases when the barometric pressure falls. Coyotes may be less active in rainy weather (barometer falling) or when the wind is especially strong (between cold and warm fronts).

Do late pruning on colder afternoons. Remove old rhubarb and asparagus stalks, cleaning out around the beds, digging in well-rotted manure. Uncover and fertilize strawberries. Cut off tips of young black raspberry branches and remove old canes.

Complete the spraying of fruit trees. Mites, scale, and aphid eggs will mature quickly when the temperatures climb above 60 degrees. The insects will be more easily controlled by dormant oil spray the closer they are to hatching. Inspect trees for winter damage. Remove dead and dying limbs.

Climate change may increase the likelihood of wet weather late into the spring. Plan ahead for early soil preparation and planting.

Weed seasons

The following dates indicate the approximate periods during which some of the more common weeds bloom and go to seed in the Ohio River valley region.

■ Dandelion Season: March 15-May 15

■ Winter Cress Season: April 20-May 20

■ Garlic Mustard Season: April 25-June 10

■ Catchweed Season: April 27-June 15

■ Poison Hemlock Season: May 20-June 20

■ Nodding Thistle Season: June 1-July 15

■ Bindweed Season: June 1-Frost

■ Canadian Thistle Season: June 1-July 15

■ Queen Anne’s Lace Season: June 10-Frost

■ Smartweed Season: June 12-Frost

Notes on the great groundhog

The Great Groundhog Moon wanes through its final quarter this week, and groundhogs begin to forage for fresh greens as the weather warms. February 2, of course, was Groundhog Day, and the Great Groundhog may have visited your house the night before. Well, maybe.

Many years ago I was a single parent with daughters who refused to fall asleep without an elaborate bedtime ritual. I used to make up stories to appease their appetite for procrastination.

One of those stories was about the Great Groundhog. This creature was seasonal, was chubby, friendly and fuzzy, appeared, of course, on Groundhog Day, and it brought good girls and boys who believed in it small presents.

Unlike Santa, and more like the Tooth Fairy, the Great Groundhog did not overwhelm children or parents with expensive presents, but rather simply made the long winters less dreary.

On the mornings of those distant February 2nds, small gifts would appear next to my daughters’ bedside tables: a stuffed animal or some kind of trinket. No big deal. It was just fun for me and for them.

My daughters don’t remember many of the stories I made up back then, but every year or so one or both of them will remember the Great Groundhog and wish me a Happy Great Groundhog Day. In retrospect, I wish I had made up more days like that.

“Poor Will’s Almanack for

2021” (with the S.A.D. Index) is still available!

For your autographed copy, send $20 (includes shipping and handling) to Poor Will, Box 431, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387.