Tag Archives: Weather

GROUNDHOGS DAY

GROUNDHOGS DAY

As told by Tree Frog:

Weather Frog

It is only One (1) more days until Groundhogs Day, so what. Why silly people have been using a Ground Hog or whatever they can find to predict the coming of spring and fresh flowers. Their guesswork is based on years of practice and refining. A tradition from the Pennsylvania German as it’s called Grundsaudaag or Murmeltiertag is celebrated on February 2.  If it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, then spring will come early; if it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will persist for six more weeks.

The human’s dress in their funny costumes and old hats only to get bitten by a cranky groundhog that wants no part of their ancient traditions only to be left alone so he can go back into his winter borrow until its spring.   Why humans do not look at a calendar to know it probably will be about six weeks more until spring I do not know.

As for me, I rely on the small flies and insects to predict spring. When they are flying I am filling my stomach. As the temperature warms, I start to warm and so do the insects.  I start catching my lunch as they fly by. It is the best time of the year unless some stupid human misused insecticides last year and killed my lunch, which will be bad for me.  Humans just disrupt nature to please themselves with no regard for what is going on around them.

The weatherman here is calling for rain so maybe we will have an early spring. Whatever happens on groundhogs day and his shadow, the flavor of the day at Culver’s is Twix Mix. Have a happy Ground Hogs Day.

©www.gardingwhisperer.com 2016

This entry was posted in Horticulture Tips, Uncategorized and tagged Ground Hog Day, Insects, Weather on February 1, 2016, by Ken Wilson. Edit

Two Full Moons in July

Full Moons of July

Or

Full Buck Moon and Blue Moon

We just finished the wettest month (June) ever in St. Louis. Going into June we were behind the yearly average by 1.59 inches. June’s has an average rainfall of 3.83 inches; we received 10.51 inches thus we are ahead of the year by 5.09 inches. The forecast for July is hot, hot, and hot so this may dry us out; I hope.  The normal rainfall for July is 3.9 inches and the total for the year is 39.79 leaving us with only more 15 inches left for a normal year.

July has two full moons; One, July 1 which is called the Full Buck Moon and the other on July 31 is called the Blue Moon.  Read why it called the dog days of summer and what is behind the names of the full moons on The Farmer’s Almanac; http://farmersalmanac.com/astronomy/2013/07/15/julys-full-buck-moon/

Bee and Misquotes

Other tidbits the Japanese Beetles are back and misquotes if they are not here they coming. (See picture) I hope we can see the full moon tonight instead of rain clouds. Hoping to see monarchs any day they were here several years ago and have not come to my garden since, but that is part of gardening; Hope.

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Pink Moon April

Pink Moon April

Full Moon III

Or

April Pink Moon

From my Front Yard

Yes, once again there is a full moon upon us on April 4th.  Besides there is a full moon there will also be an eclipse starting at 6:15 and by 6:33 CDT the moon will be 70% covered in Chicago.  One of the several names for this moon is the Pink Moon. It is because of pink Phlox or ground Phlox which is native and blooms for a long time in the spring. The best days to go fishing are the 5th, 6th, and 7th April.

Go to this link and read the full story.

http://farmersalmanac.com/blog/2015/03/31/now-its-the-moons-turn-to-be-totally-eclipsed/

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Dormant Oil

DORMANT OIL AND SPRING SEASONAL PREPARATION

On the eve of another snowstorm all over North America, it might be difficult to see the spring that is coming around the corner. Adding to the perception of we get this week we are still behind by two (2.5) inches, but we will catch up. Now is a great time to think about several ideas that will shorten your work time in your yard this summer. Continue reading →

Groundog Day

GROUNDHOG DAY

Well, the first month of the year is over, and as winters from the past, it was not unpleasant. The perception was down from the average but in this winter in Missouri, we received one (1”) inch we will be thankful.  Like a lot of times Mother Nature comes back on the first day of February we have already gotten one half of an inch (.5”).

Today is what my father called a great holiday. No, it is not really a holiday but he would talk about as he felt it was the coming of spring. He also knew he would have to start plowing to get the garden ready for the rest of us to plant.  There is a great article in the ‘Farmers Almanac’ telling how any why ‘Ground Hog’ Day came about.

http://farmersalmanac.com/weather/2015/01/26/groundhog-day-almanac-say/

No matter what the ‘Ground Hog’ predicts the almanac states that we will have snow and cold through the March.  Well with that said there will be times to do gardening, how do I know this? The low for February is -5 degrees (1980) and the high is 62 degrees in 1986. What this means is on the warm days get out and remove all the dead vegetation from the garden. Trim trees and especially your fruit trees. Remove any potential insect trouble spots where insects have been in the past spray with dormant oil before they get hatching in the spring. Do not put on any chemicals on your driveway to remove the ice that will harm the vegetation.

Once again Happy Groundhog Day and Good Gardening.