Dog days and cat nights
Garden people are talking, and what they’re saying about the
weather isn’t very nice. Cold, wet spring, horribly hot July, and
now a so-so late summer has pretty much used up all their
patience.
So, what else is there to say about weather? How about the
”
Dog Days of Summer?
”
Dog days and cat nights
Garden people are talking, and what they’re saying about the weather isn’t very nice. Cold, wet spring, horribly hot July, and now a so-so late summer has pretty much used up all their patience.
So, what else is there to say about weather? How about the “Dog Days of Summer?”
A reader sent this question: “All during that hot spell my grandfather kept saying, ‘this is the Dog Days of Summer.’ Is this really a weather thing, or is it just something old-time gardeners talk about?”
That’s a good question and the answer is interesting. The label Dog Days of Summer applies to the most sultry period of summer from July 3 to Aug. 11. Named in early times, the period was reckoned as extending from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction of Sirium, which is the dog star. In the latitude of the Mediterranean region, this period coincided with hot days that were plagued by disease and discomfort. So says factmonster.com.
Although the Dog Days label isn’t really connected to gardening, the discomfort part is something we all recognize, and the disease part certainly applies to our stressed gardens.
But what comes after Dog Days? Would you believe Cat Nights?
Cat Nights commences on Aug. 17, traditionally the time of the “yowly cats,” according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. The term harks back to the days people believed in witches. An old Irish legend says that a witch could turn into a cat and regain herself eight times. But on the ninth time, Aug. 17, she couldn’t change back, hense the saying “A cat has nine lives.”
Why is August a “yowly” time for cats? It has more to do with female cats going into heat than with witches on the prowl. And, of course, has nothing to do with gardening.
Back to the topic of weather. My favorite: “Is there such a thing as ‘earthquake weather?'” The U.S, Geological Survey says this is the most frequently asked question that comes its way.
On sultry days with a stillness in the air, my grandmother Demma, who lived through the 1906 quake, would make the sign of the cross and pronounce “This is earthquake weather!”
But the experts claim no correlation between weather and earthquakes has ever been found. Then again, doubting Thomas that I am, maybe they just haven’t “found” it yet.
Which brings us to at least one weather-related question that has to do, sort of, with gardening. “What is the Harvest Moon? Does it have to do with farming or folklore or moon phases?”
The Full Harvest Moon has a bit to do with all those things. It refers to the full moon nearest the autumn equinox, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. The bright moon seems to move almost parallel to the horizon at rising. This occurs in late September or early October, when harvesting is traditionally at its peak. The date this year is Oct. 6.
Of course, since we are mostly surrounded by hills, the effect of the Full Harvest Moon is a bit lost here.
Plant a Row for the Hungry: Tomatoes are showing up at Community Pantry, and so are other summer vegetables, including corn, squash and beans. Home gardeners shared 493 pounds of fruit and vegetables this past week, bringing the total to 4,429 pounds so far this year.
The produce donated by Plant a Row for the Hungry gardeners goes into bags of food shared with those in the community who need it most.
“The fresh vegetables and fruit are really welcomed by those who receive the bags. It gives our folks a taste of something fresh from the garden,” says Mary Anne Huges, Pantry director.
If you have garden produce to share, the Pantry is located at 30 Airport Ave., Hollister. For more information, call 831-637-0340.
