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.
I hadn’t really considered soil temps and burrowing as Dawn and I were talking about how the ‘bunnies’ survive the cold last night. I have realized that the earth keeps the bottom of my little garden pond ‘warm.’ Amazing to me that the soil can insulate at even such shallow depths. I presume that the burrowing takes place before frost makes the ground hard?
Yep, I think most animals are pretty hard wired to have a place ready to get into by the time extreme cold comes around, unless their strategy like grasshoppers and annual plants is to “plant the seed” in the fall and leave continuation of the species to the next generation. Birds have been known to burrow into snow drifts at night, using the igloo approach to insulation as well…. ________________________________________
We are lucky to have a snow “blanket” during this bitterly cold spell. This is why we need some good hard freezes during the winter to kill off some of those grasshoppers.
Thanks for your almanac. I’ve really been enjoying reading it. I’ve noticed the lengthening daylight in the evenings. But as my Dad used to say (one of his many weather sayings): As the days begin to lengthen, the weather begins to strengthen.