Almanac

Rollercoaster Temperatures

2012-01-21T14:43:00.000-08:00

January has been dry.
Temperatures have been up into the 60's and down into the single digits. The birds have been at the suet and seeds.
We have put fresh water out.

We have five suet cakes out.
Four are in the front yard and one is in the backyard.
All are busy spots.

I enjoyed watching the little Downy wait his turn.

He was respectful towards Red Bellied.

But after a few minutes he was ready for his turn at the suet.

The Hairy Woodpecker looks just like the Downy only
Hairy is twice the size of Downy.

The Flickers are regulars at the suet cakes.

Our little Albino female Cardinal is holding her own.

I am charmed!

She has my heart.

Today we begin the next cycle in Celtic Astrology.

It is perfect for me.
The Green Dragon is my symbol.

I am developing my Luna Astrology.

Now to learn about the Rowan Tree.

First Frost

2011-10-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

Some of the mums are just opening.

These red orange ones are on the North side of the house in the front garden.
I hope they continue to bloom until Thanksgiving.

A few bugs were out sunning this afternoon.

It has been 34 days since our last rain.

We planted 200 Purissima tulips in the Fig Garden and

20 Swan Wing tulips in the Wind Spinner bed
along with 100 Jeanne D'Arc Crocus.

I think both of these areas will look lovely next spring.

In the vegetable garden we planted 160 cloves of garlic.

I hope to have plenty to share next summer.

We had our first frost on the 19th.

I am glad we covered some of the marigolds and squash.

The Garden Rue is still blooming.

I have gathered seed from the cosmos.

Monarchs

2011-09-10T16:26:00.000-07:00

Another Monarch emerged from his chrysalis this morning.

Viceroys are mimics.

This one has a couple of bird snips.

Busy butterfly days.

Waning Crescent Moon

2011-08-27T18:32:00.000-07:00

We have watched the moon this past week.

The waning crescent moon has been a
beautiful site in the early morning.

The Buckeyes are making up for lost time.

I have six at one time feeding in the milkweed.

Monarchs are also feeding in the milkweed.

Our Chippy like nuts.
I put a small bowl filled with mixed nuts out for him.

It has been an incredible year for Tiger Swallowtails.

The Female Tiger in her black form is the biggest butterfly in my gardens this year.
She is bigger than the Giants!

Hurricane Irene has landed on the East Coast.
I send blessings.

Sprouts

2011-08-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

Our Autumn vegetable garden has sprouted.

We have received 4.58" of rain this past week.

The butterflies visit between showers.

We harvested our first brussel sprouts.

Second nesting is finished.

First Week of August

2011-08-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

August came in hot and humid.

The Jewel Wing Waxing Crescent Moon
traveled the skies.

An inch of rain gave some relief.

The hottest day of the year on the 2nd.
The National Weather Center reported 109 F.

I have begun studying Celtic Astrology.

The 13 sign Lunar Zodiac fits my way of thinking.

I shall be studying the trees in my area.

New Wise Moon

2011-07-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrate the second New Moon in July.

I named the second New Moon in a month the Wise Moon.

We have a new visitor.
I am not 100% sure who she is.
I think she is a female Scarlet Tanager.

We had rain this morning.
It was cooler until the sun came out.
Once again the humidity rose.

I bought grapes for the birds.

I think if I grew them they would be ripening about now.

The female Gold Finches are shy like our visitor.

We placed a new Hummingbird feeder on the feeding station.
Raccoons broke the last one.

I am doing a Moon watch.
It will be New Wise Moon to New Sunflower Moon in August.
Each day I am having conversations with the Moon.
I am following her phases, her rise and set times.
I am following my moods, my energy levels and my creativity.

The New Moon is my favorite Moon phase.
I love the dark of the Moon.
I love not seeing the Moon but knowing she is up there.
I trust the Moon.
Tonight I will sit outside under the dark of the Moon.
I will begin my Moon watch.

Ten Days of Heat

2011-07-23T19:27:00.000-07:00

We have had ten days of heat advisories.

Today temperatures rose to 105 F.

The bees love the heat.

No rain for the last ten days so we have begun to water
the bushes and the new trees.

The Butterflies continue to visit.
I was pleased to see the Gray Hairstreak.

A pair of Skippers rested on a leaf.

The Tiger Swallowtails continue to come to the gardens.

She is my favorite.

Heat Advisory

2011-07-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

A very hot week with another seven days of heat advisories.

Full Buck Moon in the early morning hours of the 15th.

These are butterfly days.

These are sunflower days.

A magical week

2011-07-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

My week began with the crescent moon.

It was full of fun animal sightings.

Chippy the Chimunk is a regular desk visitor.

The Blue Birds always make me smile.

The female Tiger swallowtail, in her black dress, wows me every time I see her.

Having photographs of the red Fox is very exciting.

We have seen 5 in the cemetery.

Seeing the Pipe-vine Swallowtail was another joy this past week.

We saw a large turtle while walking.

New to our backyard, the Olive Hairstreak.

Black Swallowtail instar.

So tiny now. I will be watching this one grow.

So very wonderful.

We had 0ne inch of rain this past week.

The Tiger Lilies are blooming.

The Monarchs have returned.

The white cone flowers are in full bloom.

The Sunflowers are just started to show color.

The moon is at quarter.

July 2011

2011-07-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

July came in hot and humid with
heat advisories for the Holiday weekend.

Two New Moons in July this year,

The Tiger New Moon
was July 1st.

The Hummingbird Clearwings
seem to love the heat.

Queen Ann's Lace is in bloom.
It has self sowed in many of the flowers beds.
I shall cut it back after the blooms are spent.

The bugs do seem to love it.

I need to deadhead the back butterfly bush.

The Purple Cone flowers
are a rich source of nectar.

July and Tigers go together perfectly.

Hummingbird Clearwings

2011-06-25T11:22:00.000-07:00

A pair of Hummingbird Clearwings feed
in the butterfly garden this past week.

They also enjoyed the lavender I left.

They were quick when they mated.

We spotted a pair of Red Foxes this morning
while walking in the cemetery.

These are magical moments.
Moments to record.
Moments to remember.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

2011-04-30T18:34:00.000-07:00

The Rose-breasted Grosbeaks returned this morning.

The Bleeding Hearts are at peak bloom.

The Japanese Iris are blooming.

We are waiting for the Baltimore Orioles to come back.
We have seen the scout.

In the meantime a male Red Bellied Woodpecker
has found the grape jelly.

Lots of nest building.

The Northern Cardinals are nesting in the Holly.

I think I can get a photograph through a window.

We will soon have more House Sparrows.

It has been a mild, wet April.

Hummingbirds and Orioles

2011-04-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

The male Hummingbird arrived on April 20th.

Now I am waiting for the females to come in.

He seems to be getting comfortable in my backyard.

The Baltimore Orioles arrived on April 22nd.

A lovely Earth Day surprise.

It warmed up just enough for the bees to come out.
It has been cold and stormy.

Hummingbirds and Orioles made my
Holy Week extra wonderful.

A beautiful April Day

2011-04-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

The Magnolias are at peak bloom.

The bees are awake.

All the Daffodils are in bloom.

The wild violets are just beginning to bloom.

A Black Swallowtail butterfly surprised us this morning.
My husband found a chrysalis the first of March while cleaning
up the hops. He brought it inside. I placed it in a bowl with dried flowers. We were much surprised to find the Swallowtail on the windowsill this morning. Spring is here.
March went out cold and damp.
April came in sunny and warm.

Snow

2011-03-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

It is March 27th and we are having a snow storm.

The snow is accumulating, covering the grass and weighing down the daffodils.

I refilled the bird feeders.

Spring snow does not stay around very long.

The daffodils will pop back up.

In like a lamb

2011-03-05T19:30:00.000-08:00

March has come in like a sweet lamb.

The Birds are beginning seed giving.

We have two pairs of Downy Woodpeckers.

The first week of March had a bit of Spring and

a bit of Winter.

A cold rain one day
and clear blue skies the next.

The trees have not yet budded.

The Cardinals are singing their territory songs.

A few crocus are in bloom.

Daffodils are emerging.
Spring is slowly waking.

February

2011-02-26T06:37:00.000-08:00

The blizzard on February 1st began the roller coaster weather ride.

12.3 inches of snow fell on my gardens.

Three weeks later, 78 degrees breaking the record.

The freezing and thawing is hard
on my deck!
I saw my first bee of the season.

Our first crocus bloomed.

Another round of Winter storms
with freezing rain and wet snow

brought many Northern Cardinals
to the feeders.

Thundershowers are forecasted for
the end of the month.

Melting

2011-02-12T13:49:00.000-08:00

A strong southernly breeze is bring in warm air.

It will take a few days of above freezing temperatures

before the huge snow drifts melt completely.

I sat in the sun with the birds

and my books.

This growing season I am keeping track of the
bloom times, when the bugs emerge and
when the migrating birds arrive.

We can make a difference
if we try.
I want to make a difference in my world.

In February I am
honoring heart healthy ways.
Sitting in the winter's sun
is so good for my heart!

February 1, 2011

2011-02-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

February 2011 will be remembered for the blizzard.

12.3 inches of snow and bitter temperatures made for a week of school closings

and Kansas City being in a state of emergency.

White out conditions for most of the day
made travel dangerous. I-70 was closed from Kansas City
to St. Louis. By late in the day Missouri was in a state of emergency.

This was a huge storm that made the record books.

First week of January

2011-01-08T15:17:00.000-08:00

It was mild most of the week, we walked outdoors under sunny skies. Temperatures rose most days into the 40's.

Yesterday the wind came up and blew cold air into the region. I placed fresh water on the deck for the birds. The Woodpeckers
enjoy the nuts. We placed acorns on the deck for the Yellow Shafted Flickers and Blue Jays.

Today the high was 24 degrees with snow flurries.

All week the weathermen have been talking about
the big snow storm heading our way.
We need the moisture.

January 1, 2011

2011-01-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

Bitterly cold this morning

with clear skies.

The sun felt warm when we walked.

Many birds at the feeders and suet.

I put two scoops of saved acorns

out for the Blue Jays and squirrels.

Planning

2010-12-24T12:20:00.000-08:00

I am planning on keeping a garden journal in 2011.
I shall record when and what I plant.
Ishall record when and what I harvest.

I am planning on writing an almanac in 2011.
I want to record the weather and the species of birds, butterflies
bees and dragonflies that come into the gardens.
I am making my plans for 2011.

The Orioles Return

2008-05-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

Daffodil Days

2008-05-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

Fickled April

2008-04-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

Bees

2008-04-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

Out Like a Sleeping Lion

2008-03-31T09:36:00.000-07:00

First Bee

2008-03-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

Dovetailing

2008-03-24T15:17:00.000-07:00

Awakening

2008-03-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

In Like a Feisty Lamb

2008-03-03T08:19:00.000-08:00

Anticipation

2008-02-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

Winter Romance

2008-02-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

Winter Weary

2008-02-11T08:40:00.000-08:00

Whirling Dervishes

2008-02-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

Mid-Winter Thaw

2008-01-28T05:19:00.000-08:00

Anna Clipper

2008-01-21T06:58:00.000-08:00

Frosty Mornings

2008-01-14T10:08:00.000-08:00

Winds of Change

2008-01-07T19:47:00.000-08:00