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.
Deer Mating Moon – October
The Osage called this time Deer Mating Moon to commemoratee the very noticeable ree-appearance of the bucks, who are beginning to “rut,” which they literally do with their hooves. They find a prominent place and scrape the groundcover clear of vegetation as part of their mating ritual.
Hackberry, ash, box elder and elm trees are the first to turn yellow this month, providing nice contrast to the reds of sumac, poison ivy and Virginia creeper as their green chlorophyll plays out leaving either the yellow or red chlorophylls to collect the shorter day’s sunlight. Mid-late month spells the end of the growing cycle for annuals with the first killing frosts coming then most years. Mid-month is a great time to find native prairie patches, looking for the coppery colored grasses that distinguish them from the greens of cool season grasses such as brome, fescue and, of course, wheat.
Bird migration is building all month, with seagulls that breed in Canada passing through the area, along with pelicans, geese, and various ducks. A trip to Clinton or any other area reservoir, or the Wakarusa Wetlands is almost always a rewarding outing, whether it be for the migrating fowl around sunrise or sunset, or the changing colors of fall. This is the favorite time of year for many folks who like to be outdoors–what are you waiting for?
In the last two weeks in my back yard in North Lawrence: In the daytime…. 4 ft black snake with dinner bulge came in my kitchen and refused to leave. swallow trapped in chimney base had to be freed. 3 ft lined garter snake swallows huge toad. At night in early morning hours….. Racoon raids birdfeeders at 2:00AM, possum plays vacuum cleaner under bird feeders late at night, A 3 ft. fox appears at 1:00AM and runs off with the woodpecker suet I bought for mama downy who brings her baby to eat finch food every day.
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Thanks for sharing such vivid imagery, Nancy. Around our place, we’ve seen box turtles laying eggs, a black snake crossing the drive, cowbirds probably laying eggs in the resident painted bunting nests (grrrr…), nesting cardinals, chickadees, downy woodpeckers, with the elusive yellow billed cuckoo calling in the woods, herons flying by around sunset and sunrise, the call of the nighthawk and chuck will’s widow frequenting the night, opossums and foxes raiding the compost but staying out of the chicken fenced garden, way too many ticks and chiggers. June is so alive!
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