Poor Will's Countryside Almanack for early spring of 2007.The seasons bring the flower again, And bring the firstling first·ling n. 1. The first of a kind or category. 2. A first-born offspring. to the flock. --Alfred Lord Tennyson Astronomical data for March Phases of the Red-Winged Blackbird Moon and the Robin Chorus Moon As most of the red-winged blackbirds set their territories, great flocks of robins continue to move north and take up positions for spring breeding. By the middle of March, most of the birds have arrived, the sun is close to equinox, and the predawn chorus gets underway. Earlier risers than the cardinals and doves (which typically call half an hour before dawn), the robins start their calls an hour or more before sunup by the end of March. 4th: The Red-Winged Blackbird Moon is full at 4:17 a.m. 12th: The moon enters its final quarter at 8:54 a.m. 19th: The Robin Chorus Moon is new at 7:43 a.m. 25th: The Moon enters its second quarter at 11:16 p.m. Note: A total eclipse of the moon will be visible in eastern North America beginning just after midnight on March 3rd and ending before dawn on the 4th. The sun's progress In the Southeast, the morning gains half an hour this month, the sun coming up around a quarter past six by April 1st. Sunset slowly moves later in the day, adding another 15 minutes to the 15 it gained in February. In the Pacific Northwest, the day now lengthens more than twice as quickly as it does near the Gulf of Mexico Noun 1. Gulf of Mexico - an arm of the Atlantic to the south of the United States and to the east of Mexico Golfo de Mexico Atlantic, Atlantic Ocean - the 2nd largest ocean; separates North and South America on the west from Europe and Africa on the east : the morning increases by a full hour during March, and sunset comes up to three-quarters of an hour later. In the Midwest and the Northeast, the gains are similar. And even though the day lengthens at different rates at different locations, equinox is still equinox and brings equal day and night (at exactly 5:07 a.m. March 21st) in the whole country. A partial eclipse of the sun will take place on the 19th of March, but it will only be visible from Asia and parts of Alaska. Daylight Saving Time daylight saving time (DST), time observed when clocks and other timepieces are set ahead so that the sun will rise and set later in the day as measured by civil time. begins at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 11th. The planets Venus moves into Aries, continuing to be the evening star of 2007. Mars reaches Capricorn this month, maintaining its low position in the sky before sunrise. Jupiter remains in Ophiuchus, now rising just after midnight and traveling overhead by sunup. Saturn stays in Leo, rising before dark and setting in the west as Jupiter moves above you. The stars Cancer and Gemini lie in the center of the sky on the cusp of spring late in the evening. Winter's Pleiades lead Orion just below the ecliptic ecliptic (ēklĭp`tĭk, ĭ–), the great circle on the celestial sphere that lies in the plane of the earth's orbit (called the plane of the ecliptic). into the northwest. Now Arcturus comes up in the east, forecasting milder weather. The snow constellation, Cepheus, rides the rim of the Milky Way to the lip of the northern horizon, reducing the chances for a blizzard to almost zip. Corvus, May's corn and soybean planting constellation, appears on the eastern horizon. Spica, which will be centered in the southern sky as peak planting ends this spring, emerges from the east. June's Corona Borealis follows close behind. The shooting stars The Delta Leonid shooting stars fall after midnight throughout the first week of this month. Astronomical data for April Phases of the Robin Chorus Moon and the Warbler Moon The robin chorus that begins in the middle of early spring is a sure sign that crocuses are blooming and that daffodils will soon be open. Then, the warbler migrations north during April and May bring on all of the flowers and foliage of middle spring, everything from the lilacs to mock orange. April: 2nd: The Robin Chorus Moon is full at 10:15 p.m. 10th: The moon comes into its final quarter at 11:04 p.m. 17th: The Warbler Moon is new at 4:36 p.m. 24th: The moon enters its second quarter at 11:35 a.m. The sun's progress The sluggish nature of winter, its interminable cold and gray skies, its sameness that lasts from the beginning of December through the middle of February, reflects the slow movement of the sun between October's Cross Quarter Day (the 24th) and February's Cross Quarter Day (the 18th). For more than four months, the sun lies at its lowest position in the sky. After the final leaves fall in November and December, the trees are bare and the land remains subdued, revealing little of the gradual swelling that quietly precedes late February's awakening and the arrival of early spring. That phase of spring is one of the longest seasons of the year (a full six weeks), but it offers little encouragement to the casual observer. Sap runs unseen in the maples, and then the dark buds swell, but the days are still cloudy and chilly. Flurries and frost are common, and the new snowdrops and aconites are often overlooked because of the bitter weather. Even though cardinals sing before sunrise at the end of January, even though red-winged blackbirds start nesting at the end of February, and robins begin their morning chorus in the middle of March, the season can feel torturously uneventful. By 20th of April, however, the radical acceleration of the year becomes apparent. A season is always the sum of its parts. The pieces of early spring are few and subtle, but middle spring leaves little to the imagination. The meager inventories of change that characterize equinox quickly fill with new details each day. Trees leaf and flowers bloom, unmistakable, their numbers catching the eye of almost everyone. All the habitats, from rich talus talus (tā`ləs), deposit of rock fragments detached from cliffs or mountain slopes by weathering and piled up at their bases. A talus is a common geologic feature in regions of high cliffs. slopes to alleyways, reveal the prints of change. The days finally grow warm. The earth seems to spin faster now, time ceding to the eye of the spectator. The days suddenly reach their summer length. The floral and faunal fragments multiply, literally filling in the space of Earth with tangible, visible clockwork, the four months of winter abstinence repaid beyond counting. The planets Venus moves into Taurus this April, still visible as the evening star. Mars enters Aquarius, low in the southeast before dawn. Jupiter remains in Ophiuchus, rising in the middle of the night, traveling to the far west by sunrise. Saturn stays in Leo, overhead at dark, setting after midnight. The stars April midnights are the only midnights of the year on which the Milky Way is almost completely absent from the southern sky. It has not really disappeared, however. In the far west, Orion is setting. Above him, between Gemini and Cassiopeia, the horizon reveals just a fragment of the Milky Way's winter band, but that band circles around behind the North Star all the way to the rising Summer Triangle, linking April with November. The shooting stars The Lyrid Meteors are active after midnight between Cygnus and Hercules during the second and third week of April. These shooting stars often appear at the rate of 15 to 25 per hour. April frostwatch Between April 1st and June 1st, up to a dozen frosts occur at lower elevations along the 40th Parallel during a typical year. Of course, in some years, frosts end with March in most of the country. Normally, however, the approximate chances for a damaging frost follow a regular and steadily declining trajectory through the end of May. Add 10 percent to the figures below for each 100 miles north of the 40th parallel (or for each 500 feet of elevation above 1,000 feet along that parallel). Subtract 10 percent for each 100 miles south of the 40th parallel. The records you make for your garden or homestead will refine this general overview even more. Chances for frost in April: 1st, 98%; 10% 90%; 20th, 75%; 30% 50% The weather systems & your homestead Although any calendar will do for keeping track of city time, the counting and recording of cold fronts can be especially useful for keeping field and garden time in perspective. While the nature of these fronts may change a little from year to year, their overall pattern provides an important guide around which to build a rhythm of family and livestock care. Using weather history, one can know that cold waves will cross the Mississippi around the dates listed below. The fronts reach Western states 24 to 48 hours prior to their arrival in the Midwest; they reach the East 24 to 48 hours later. Major storms are most likely to occur on the days between March 9th and 14th, and between March 19th and 30th. In April, expect the worst weather between April 1st and 11th and from April 19th through the 27th. According to a number of studies, the moon exerts less influence on ocean tides and on human and animal behavior when it comes into its 2nd and 4th quarters. Therefore, it might make more sense to perform routine maintenance on your family, flock or herd on or about March 12th and 25th and April 10th and 24th. On the other hand, tidal lunar influences have been proven to be greater at full moon and new moon times. You might expect more trouble with your children, in-laws and animals, therefore, on or about March 4th and 19th and April 2nd and 17th. March 3: Although full moon occurs as this front approaches the Mississippi, increasing the likelihood for stormy weather, the first days of March often bring a false sense of spring to much of the nation. In an average year, the March 3rd front is often relatively gentle, prolonging the opportunities for tapping trees and doing other outdoor work. The best lunar time for spring vaccinating of pets and livestock, for trimming feet on goats and sheep, shearing sheep, tattooing, and clipping wattles on the young goats occurs after the March full moon. Put in your root crops as well as all your landscape plantings at this time, too. Dig parsnip Parsnip, river, Canada Parsnip, river, c.150 mi (240 km) long, rising in central British Columbia, Canada, and flowing northwest to join the Finlay River at Williston Lake and form the Peace River. , horseradish, dock, and dandelion root for tonics and tea. Also during the period of the waning moon, 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. March 5: Precipitation and wind typically mark this second March front, and the last major snowstorm of the first half of the year sometimes strikes the Middle Atlantic region. By now, all soil testing should be complete and spring fertilizing should be well underway. March is a time for increased goat export sales. Cull does that did not freshen to expectation and wethers that may have genetic faults. March is often the time for the six-month shearing of angoras. Lunar as well as meteorological conditions should be best for that activity after the March 24th high-pressure system is followed by milder weather. March 9: The March 9th front is often the most dangerous and the coldest high-pressure system in the first two-thirds of March. Be ready to protect young calves, lambs and kids from hypothermia. Consider spring clipping of goats during the second 10 days of March and fourth week of the month--or the last two weeks of April. These are historically the mildest times during the unpredictable advance of spring. March 14: This front is typically less disruptive than the weather systems that surround it, and the weak moon this week should contribute to a relatively mild March 14th weather system. In the North, you may be able to get your potatoes and peas planted on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th. In the South, plant corn and cotton so that it will sprout when the moon turns new. If you transport animals at this low lunar stress time, they may lose less weight in transit. The New Robin Chorus Moon time is also rodent and predator time: Prairie dogs started messing up fields on March 1st. Now come groundhogs. Then coyotes. Then mountain lions. Then bears and wolves. And, of course, regular dogs. March 19: The equinox front historically brings freezing temperatures and clear skies to the northern half of the nation, and new moon on the 19th will increase the odds for cold. Be prepared to protect tender vegetables and flowers throughout the South and Border States. The period of the waxing March moon offers some of the very best seed starting of the entire year for flowers and for vegetables that will produce their fruit above the ground. Warm-weather crops such as tomatoes should be ready to set out on the first of May if you start them under lights this week. Try cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, and all delicate herbs or flowers indoors before full moon. Seed tobacco, and set out pansies, cabbages, kale, peas, collards and Brussels sprouts throughout the southern states as the moon waxes through this relatively favorable weather window. Put in lettuce and spinach, too, all across the southern half of the nation. Throughout the North, frost seed pastures and the lawn; let the frost work the new seeds into the ground. Then start seeds you want to put out in April and May. Along the Canadian border, tap maple trees under the swelling moon. March 24: This system is usually less powerful than the fronts that precede and follow it, and the weak moon this year may help to keep this high from causing damage. Now begin your regular worming of livestock in warmer parts of the country in order to reduce parasite egg counts. Take fecal samples after kidding and lambing; do annual vaccinations and blood work, too. Castrate castrate /cas·trate/ (kas´trat) 1. to deprive of the gonads, rendering the individual incapable of reproduction. 2. a castrated individual. cas·trate v. 1. , tattoo, dehorn de·horn tr.v. de·horned, de·horn·ing, de·horns 1. To remove the horns from. 2. To prevent growth in the horns of (cattle, for example), as by cauterization. Verb 1. the kids, and check their hooves as pasture season begins in earnest. The weak moon also may contribute to easier weaning of your goats. When to wean? Some rules of thumb are: 1) when the kid is eight weeks old, 2) when the kid's weight is two to three times its birth weight, 3) when the kid is chewing its cud. Weaning weight should be reached more or less during the kid's 8th to 10th week--about the time it is chewing its cud. March 29: The last front of March brings middle spring, the period during which almost all the field crops are planted, most of the lambs, kids and calves are moved to pasture. April 2: This front is associated with high winds and lightning. Full moon on the 2nd this year is expected to bring increased chances for dangerous storms. After this front arrives, commercial farmers and gardeners throughout the central areas of the United States typically plant their sweet corn and their head lettuce. Pastures are 'greening almost everywhere. Keep an eye out for bloat as you let your goats and sheep enjoy the new greenery. And transition animals, and especially the kids and lambs, slowly to the new pasture. If you suspect bloat, often first noticed as swelling or distention dis·ten·tion or dis·ten·sion n. The act of distending or the state of being distended. distention, n a state of dilation. on an animal's left side, try treating with a couple of tablespoons of baking soda in a cup of warm water. If the creature is foaming at the mouth from bloat, try half a cup of corn oil. Cut some lush pasture and let your sheep and goats get used to the taste before you let them out in it. Or just let livestock eat hay before heading out to the field. April 6: This front is often a treacherous weather system, bringing warm winds prior to its arrival, then burning the flowers of apples, pears and peaches after it 'passes through. Recommended lunar practice is to shear sheep, and dehorn, castrate, and tattoo your young goats late in the moon's third quarter or during the fourth quarter. Also, plant your beets, carrots, onions, radishes and turnips now that the moon is waning. April 11: This is usually one more relatively mild front that comes through between the April 6th system and the wet and windy April 16th front; the weak moon on the 10th should help to keep it mild. April 16: Precipitation often occurs as this front races across the United States, and new moon on the 17th should increase the chances for storms. After the front (along with a little frost) passes, however, expect warm weather to nurture your early April plantings. But watch for mold in feed supplies as the weather turns more humid. In anticipation of the new moon, farmers plant spring grains along the Canadian border, the rest of the cotton in the Gulf states, soybeans in Mississippi, and sugar beets in the Midwest. Early rice and peanuts can now be seeded in the South. April 21: Chances for snow and frost recede quickly after this front comes through, and conditions improve throughout the country for planting late summer and autumn grasses and legumes Legumes A family of plants that bear edible seeds in pods, including beans and peas. Mentioned in: Cholesterol, High legumes (l in order to extend the grazing season. Also as the moon swells, put in all garden vegetables that will produce their fruit above the ground. Most flower seeds can be planted now, too. April 24: The odds for outstanding field and garden weather are excellent after the passage of this front. Seed all the rest of your flowers and vegetables in flats or directly in the garden as the moon waxes. Even in the northern tier of states, the danger of frost gradually becomes quite low as May approaches. Don't forget to sprout or set new parsley for the yard and garden. Then keep track of your increasing milk yield when you feed your does and sheep lots of fresh parsley every day. April 28: Warm and wet weather is associated with this front--perfect for setting out shrubs and trees. Why not plant some elms along your pasture this week? Not only do goats find them tasty (after the trees are grown, of course), but elm trees have a reputation for warding off lightening. Maybe you should put elms around the house and barn too! Lunar feeding patterns for people and beasts The following weekly key to lunar position shows when the moon is above the continental United States United States territory, including the adjacent territorial waters, located within North America between Canada and Mexico. Also called CONUS. , and therefore when all creatures are typically most active. Second-best times occur when the moon is below the earth. Dieters, of course, should look for increased temptation when the moon is overhead; relief will come as the moon is either rising or setting (its weakest daily positions). Fish and game may feed more, and animals (and children) may be slightly more troublesome with the moon above. Date: Above; Below March 1-3: Evenings; Mornings March 4-12: Midnight to Dawn; Afternoons March 13-18: Mornings; Evenings March 19-24: Afternoons; Midnight to Dawn March 25-31: Evenings; Mornings April 1-2 : Evenings; Mornings April 3-9 : Midnight to Dawn; Afternoons April 10-16: Mornings; Evenings April 17-23: Afternoons; Midnight to Dawn April 24-30: Evenings; Mornings Some Seasons of Spring Although winter retreats at different rates in different parts of the country, the subseasons of spring follow a general progression as March and April unfold. Compare this schedule with your own to track the dozens of seasons that lie within the cycles of your personal habitat. Seasons of March Week 1 Maple syrup season continues throughout the period, and Snowdrop snowdrop: see amaryllis. snowdrop Any of about 12 species and many variations of white-flowered, spring-blooming, bulbous Eurasian plants that make up the genus Galanthus of the amaryllis family. Several species, including common snowdrop (G. Season, Aconite aconite (ăk`ənīt), monkshood, or wolfsbane, any of several species of the genus Aconitum Season and Snow Crocus Season always accompany the movement of the tree sap. Daffodil Budding Season advances as the sap recedes. Along the riverbanks, Nest Scouting Season has opened for ducks and geese, and Migration Season is underway for killdeer killdeer, common North American shorebird related to the plover and the sandpiper. It is about 10 in. (25 cm) in length and its plumage is grayish brown with a double black band across a white breast. Its simple nest is a depression in the soil or gravel. , woodcocks and canvasback canvasback: see duck. canvasback Diving duck (Aythya valisineria), one of the most popular game birds. The male weighs about 3 lb (1.4 kg). ducks. Pussy Willow Season intensifies as more catkins emerge. Walleye walleye, in medicine walleye: see strabismus. walleye, in zoology walleye or walleyed pike: see perch. , Sauger sauger Species (Stizostedion canadense) of pikeperch (family Percidae), carnivorous food and game fishes found in lakes and silty rivers of eastern North America. Saugers are slender and darkly mottled. They have two dorsal fins and rarely exceed a length of 12 in. , Saugeye, Muskie mus·kie or mus·ky n. pl. mus·kies The muskellunge. , Bass, Carp, and Crappie crappie: see sunfish. crappie Either of two deep-bodied freshwater North American fish species (family Centrarchidae) that are popular as food and prized by sport fishermen. Native to the eastern U.S. Feeding Seasons are now underway. Earthworm earthworm, terrestrial, cylindrical segmented worm of the class Oligochaeta. There are 2,200 earthworm species, found all over the world except in arid and arctic regions and ranging in size from 1 in. (2.5 cm) to the 11-ft (330-cm) giant worms of the tropics. Mating Season starts in the warming rains. Junco junco or snowbird, small seed-eating bird of North America closely related to the sparrows. Juncos have white underparts and gray (sometimes also brown) backs. They travel in flocks. Season ends at the bird feeder as Foliage Growing Season expands with leaves of the wild violet joining henbit henbit see lamium amplexicaule. and ground ivy by the 6th of March. Week 2 Bluebell Growing Season begins as the first bluebell foliage emerges from hillsides and gardens. Daffodil, Chickweed chickweed: see pink. chickweed Either of two species of small-leaved weeds, in the pink family. Common chickweed, or stitchwort (Stellaria media), is native to Europe but widely naturalized. It usually grows to 18 in. , Henbit, and Dandelion Blooming Seasons unfold as Nettle-Shepherd's Purse-Cress-Clover-and-Lamb's Quarter-Picking-for-Greens Season spreads through the countryside. Red-Winged Blackbird Migration Season peaks as pussy willows come out all the way. Turkey vultures return to the North to mark the commencement of Turkey Vulture Migration Season. Indoors in flats under lights, it is Tomato Seeding Season, Green Pepper Seeding Season, Eggplant Seeding Season and Annual Flower Seeding Season. Week 3 All of the seasons of the first half of March continue as Periwinkle periwinkle, in zoology periwinkle, any of a group of marine gastropod mollusks having conical, spiral shells. Periwinkles feed on algae and seaweed. Budding Season moves through the undergrowth and Violet Cress Budding Season starts in the warmer corners of the bottomlands. In the woods, Turkey Gobbling Season is announced, of course, by gobbling turkeys. In milder years, it is Honeysuckle Leafing Out Season, at least on the lower branches. On higher branches of shrubs and trees, buds are cracking in Bud Cracking Season. And now it's Pussy Willow Pollen Season and the earliest possible time for Butterfly Season. Week 4 The final week of March brings May Apple and Toad Trillium Emerging Season on sunny slopes, and the first days of Leafing Out Season for willows, mock orange, and buckeyes. Forsythia forsythia (fôrsĭth`ēə), common name for any member of the small genus Forsythia of the family Oleaceae (olive family), European and Asian shrubs with abundant bell-shaped yellow flowers that appear before the leaves. Blossom Season starts in the Border States this week. Field Corn Planting Season and Oats Planting Season get underway in many fields by the end of the month. Sweet Corn Planting Season and Lettuce Planting Season are open in the garden. Seasons of April Week 1 This week marks the end of the Season of Early Spring and the beginning of the Season of Middle Spring. If temperatures rise to the 60s for a few days, Middle Spring Wildflower Season arrives with bluebells, twinleaf twin·leaf n. pl. twin·leaves An eastern North American woodland plant (Jeffersonia diphylla) having basal leaves deeply cleft into two kidney-shaped lobes and a solitary white flower borne on a long scape. , bloodroot bloodroot: see poppy. bloodroot Plant (Sanguinaria canadensis) of the poppy family, native throughout eastern and midwestern North America, growing mainly in deciduous woodlands and blooming in early spring. , small-flowered bittercress and hepatica hepatica (hĭpăt`ĭkə) or liverleaf, any plant of the genus Hepatica of the family Ranunculaceae (buttercup family), low, woodland, spring wildflowers of the north temperate zone, popular for wild gardens. budding and then bursting into bloom. Weeping Cherry Flowering Season colors the streets of the Mid-Atlantic States this week. It's American Toad and Green Frog Song Season, at the same time as Duckling and Gosling Hatching Season, Barn Swallow Season and House Wren Season. Week 2 The second week of April opens Strawberry Flowering Season, Wood Thrush Season, the peak of Daffodil Season, Squill squill, common name for two genera of Old World bulbous plants of the family Liliaceae (lily family). The horticulturists' squill is any plant of the genus Scilla, Season, Grape Hyacinth Season, Creeping Phlox Season and Wind Flower Season. It's almost always Pear Flowering Season and Wisteria wisteria (wĭstēr`ēə) or wistaria (–târ`–), any plant of the genus Wisteria, Season in the nation's midsection mid·sec·tion n. A middle section, especially the midriff of the body. . Middle Spring Wildflower Season keeps most of its early flowers and adds many more. Spring Beauty Season joins Toad Trillium (the small red-flowered trillium) Season. It is the peak of Virginia Bluebell Season, flowers filling the hillsides. It is Cowslip cowslip, name for plants of the borage, marsh marigold, and primrose families. cowslip Any of several flowering plants, including (chiefly in British usage) the wild primrose (Primula veris) and (in U.S. usage) the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris). Season in the wetlands, Trout Lily Season and Jacob's Ladder Season beneath the budding canopy. It is Redbud redbud or Judas tree, name for trees and shrubs of the genus Cercis, handsome plants of the family Leguminosae (pulse family), covered along the branches in the early spring with deep rose or (rarely) white flowers resembling pea blossoms. Blushing Season along the roadsides as redbuds get ready to open. In town, Tulip Season and Fritillary fritillary Any of the approximately 80 species of bulbous, mostly perennial, ornamental herbaceous plants that make up the genus Fritillaria, in the lily family, native primarily to the northern temperate zone. Members have bell-shaped, nodding, usually solitary flowers. Season gain momentum. Week 3 The third week of an average April along the 40th parallel brings Bumblebee bumblebee: see bee. bumblebee Any member of two genera constituting the insect tribe Bombini (family Apidae, order Hymenoptera), found almost worldwide but most common in temperate climates. Bumblebees are robust and hairy, average about 0. Season and Carpenter Bee Season, Asparagus Cutting Season, Crab Apple, Cherry, Dogwood dogwood or cornel (kôr`nəl), shrub or tree of the genus Cornus, chiefly of north temperate and tropical mountain regions, characteristically having an inconspicuous flower surrounded by large, showy bracts which , Redbud and Star Magnolia Flowering Season. It's Lawn Mowing Season, Buckeye Leafing Season, the Great Dandelion Bloom Season, Winter Cress in the Pasture Season, and the best of late Middle Spring Flower Season with watercress and ragwort ragwort: see groundsel. blooming in the wetlands, thyme-leafed speedwell speedwell: see figwort. speedwell indicates female faithfulness. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 177] See : Loyalty in the lawn, early meadow rue, rue anemone anemone (ənĕm`ənē) or windflower, any of the perennial herbs, wild or cultivated, of the genus Anemone of the family Ranunculaceae (buttercup family). , wild geranium, large-flowered trillium and columbine all filling the woods. Along city streets, Pink Magnolia Season replaces White Star Magnolia Season. Buttercup buttercup or crowfoot, common name for the Ranunculaceae, a family of chiefly annual or perennial herbs of cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Season and Money Plant Season complement Snowball Viburnum viburnum: see honeysuckle. viburnum Any of about 200 shrubs and small trees that make up the genus Viburnum in the honeysuckle family, native to temperate and subtropical Eurasia and North America. Season and Bridal Wreath Spirea spirea Any of nearly 100 species of flowering shrubs in the genus Spirea (rose family), native to the northern temperate zone and commonly cultivated for their pleasing growth habit and attractive flower clusters. Season. Week 4 This transition week to the Season of Late Spring ushers in Jack-in-the-Pulpit Season, Miterwort miterwort: see saxifrage. Season, Wild Phlox phlox, common name for plants of the genus Phlox and for members of the Polemoniaceae, a family of herbs (and some shrubs and vines) found chiefly in the W United States. Season, Celandine celandine: see poppy. , Meadow Parsnip, Wood Betony, Wood Hyacinth, Fleabane fleabane, any plant of the genus Erigeron, widely distributed herbs of the family Asteraceae (aster family), especially abundant in temperate and mountainous regions of North America. , Spring Cress, Nodding Trillium, Larkspur and Bellwort Blooming Season. Garlic Mustard Season is here, covering the deep woods with white and green. It is Leafing Season for ginkgo ginkgo (gĭng`kō) or maidenhair tree, tall, slender, picturesque deciduous tree (Ginkgo biloba) with fan-shaped leaves. , tree-of-heaven, ash, locust, black walnut, and mulberry. Clematis clematis (klĕm`ətĭs, kləmăt`ĭs), any plant of the large genus Clematis (sometimes subdivided into three or four genera), widely distributed herbs or vines of the family Ranunculaceae (buttercup family), many of them Season graces garden trellises. Wild Cherry Blossom Season spreads throughout the woodlots. Mock Orange Season, Korean Lilac Season and Honeysuckle Season announce the most fragrant time of year. And it's Buckeye Blooming Season and Red Horse Chestnut Blooming Season, Lily-of-the-Valley Season, and Star of Bethlehem Star of Bethlehem, in the Gospels Star of Bethlehem, name given to the luminous celestial object rising in the sky that, as related in the Gospel of Matthew, led the Wise Men of the East to the manger in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Season, too. Poor Will's Sckrambler A total of 121 readers responded to the last Sckrambler puzzle. Prizes of $5 were promised to the 25% the 90th, the 120th and 150th persons to return the correct Sckrambler solutions by my deadline of December 31st. And the prizes go to Tiny Hensley, Independence, KS (the 25th respondent); Calvin J. White, Tecumseh, NE (the 90th respondent); and David Knauss, Bridport, VT (the 120th respondent). Thanks to everyone who took part in the Sckrambler event. Each person who entered made it possible for the winners to win! Answers to the Last Sckrambler SEINSEJMA: JESSAMINE jessamine: see jasmine. LLEMACASI: CAMELLIAS SUPYS LLSWOIW: PUSSY WILLOWS WNOSORPSD: SNOWDROPS QAAUIURS: AQUARIUS AYAUNRJ HTWA: JANUARY THAW GNITARGIM SWORC: MIGRATING CROWS GGNNIIS RACDNISLA: SINGING CARDINALS PALEM PUYRS: MAPLE SYRUP TTMSIOUE: TITMOUSE titmouse, common name for members of the Paridae, a family of passerine birds, which includes the tits, titmice, and chickadees. They are small, active birds with short, pointed bills and strong legs. DNUOGOHRG AYD: GROUNDHOG DAY CCKEH EBEHSEVI: CHECK BEEHIVES WINGORG SOMS SOMS Special Operations Media System (US DoD) SOMS South Orangetown Middle School SOMS Shift Operations Management System SOMS State Operated Mobilization Station SOMS Sales Order Management System : GROWING MOSS GNIRSP EEESRPP: SPRING PEEPERS AAAESRDNMLS: SALAMANDERS A Spring Season Sckrambler Each of the sckrambled words in this list is a season of March or April. See if you can unravel (and enjoy) all of them. In this Sckrambler, the word "season" is not sckrambled. And if you are the 5th, the 50th, the 130th or the 200th person to return your correct Sckrambler solutions by my deadline of February 28th, you will win $5. Entries will be numbered as they are received, and prizes will be mailed by March 5th. There should be no typos in this puzzle, and no typo typo - typographical error prize will be awarded. Send your entries by regular mail to Poor Will at PO Box 431,'Yellow Springs, OH 45387. EEEUBBBLM SEASON LAONWSLB UIUBVNMR SEASON NALW WMGNIO SEASON GNIPEERC XOLPH SEASON IIEATRSW SEASON ENEGR GFRO NOGS NOGS Night Observation Gun Ship NOGS Night Observation GunSight SEASON KYEUTR BOGGINLB SEASON LPEAGTNG EIDEGNS SEASON SUSYP LIWWOL SEASON EIOATNC SEASON OAERNK ACILL SEASON TNIWRE SESRC SESRC Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (Washington State University) SEASON ADOT ADOT Arizona Department Of Transportation ADOT Alaska Department of Transportation ADOT Fédération des Associations pour le Don d'Organes et de Tissus Humains ADOT Active Duty Other Than Training ADOT Automatic Digital Optical Tracker ADOT Advanced Display Optimization Tools IIUMLRLT SEASON ODOW ODOW Ohio Division of Wildlife HHSRUT SEASON IIIANGVR LLLEEUBB SEASON Copyright 2007 - W. L. Felker |
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