Ken Lassman has been keeping this almanac for over a decade, He invites you to share your observations and photos in the comments section. You can find his book Wild Douglas County at The Raven Bookstore and The Community Mercantile in Lawrence.
Buffalo Pawing Moon: June
The Osage, like many of the eastern horticultural tribes who inhabited the woodland/prairie transition zone from Minnesota to Texas, planted extensive gardens in the spring, then left the children and grandparents to tend them while most of the tribe went west to hunt bison. This is reflected in the name of the summer moons, which chronicle the behavior of the primary protein source for these tribes.
The parade of prairie flowers that began in May continues in earnest in June, with each week unfolding a new flavor of colors as wave after wave of wildflowers compete for the sunlight with the growing warm season prairie grasses. June also sees berries ripening, ranging from mulberries and blackberries to wild raspberries, gooseberries and currants.
Mammals are busy raising young, and some birds are starting second litters as the wheat ripens in the fields. Corn grows noticeably on a daily basis this month, and soybeans go from green rows in dark fields to a carpet of green. The summer solstice arrives on June 21st and the entire landscape seems to be alive with life as a result of the energy-filled longest days of the year. Nights are shorter, but full in its own way with the sounds of night life and the beautiful summer constellations in the sky, this year made all the more beautiful with Jupiter, Mars and Saturn gracing our evening/nighttimes.
Part of our annual seasonal progression this month is increasing severe weather as the warming, moist air flows in from the south, pushed violently up and out of the way by waves of colder air from the north and west. Also, in addition to plentiful plants and many young animals of all stripes this time of year, people living here have been planting their gardens this time of year for at least 4,000 years. Tap into this wonderful tradition as a way to connect with the incredible fertility of this land.
Hi, I haven’t seen or heard any chipmunks so far this year, which is really unusual. What are your thoughts on why that might be? Thanks very much!
Are you talking about the thirteen lined squirrel? Here’s a picture of it:
http://kufs.ku.edu/libres/Mammals_of_Kansas/spermoph-13.html
If not, check that website for your critter, as all the mammals in Kansas are listed there. According to that article on the 13 lined squirrel, they are probably in the midst of having young ones right now, so maybe they are just preoccupied at home and don’t get out much right now! Of course there could be a disease or even worse, someone could have put out poison and exterminated the local population you are used to seeing. That’s exactly what happened to a population I enjoyed over in Topeka where I work. The colony was exterminated by housekeeping because they were afraid the friendly critters might bite someone.
Same folks knocked down a bunch of swallow nests because some folks complained about their swooping behavior, thinking they were attacking them. I quickly told housekeeping that they are insectivores and most likely they are drawn to people walking outside, hoping that the person will scare up a bug or two for them to pick off, and that they are a great asset for keeping the bugs down. I also found out that knocking down their nests now and then can actually keep parasite and nuisance bug populations down in the nests, which are re-used and therefore can build up enough mites and other parasites to create a health issue for the young as well as the parents.
The swallows have since rebuilt and they are now sitting on eggs for hatching, soon to eat that many more bugs!