May Almanac

By Clinton S. Powell, Naturalist

Every day in May, the mailbox contains at least one plant or seed catalog. Then the count increases to not just two, but three, then duplicates. Yep, spring planting is just a shovel away. Baby chicks are peeping at the post office and everyone looks for their shorts.

I refer to the Weather Channel for my data, as do the one most folks, they see, plan, hope and cry with the predictions the cheerful weatherman gives. So sober up and let's take a look at the historical weather in May.

The average low temperature for May is 38 to 40. However, on a historical chart, on only two days was the low temperature above freezing. Two days; if that isn't enough to keep your boots and jackets handy, I don't know what is. Also, this keeps you loading good stacks of dry firewood; if it's wet, well, it's wood. It doesn't matter if it was the first day of the month or the last; a concerned homeowner with a fireplace must be ready for just about any kind of weather. I've only known two men who had enough dry pine, cedar, oak, pine cones and, very importantly, dry, split kindling to last until June. I was not one of those. Louis Juch and Bud Birdsell were natives to Julian and kept their family warm and happy with the essentials. Keep the seed catalogs marked and handy, as any time, any day, the last freeze will occur. And those once tiny chicks in your garage are almost big enough to eat.

By reviewing my Daily Engagement Calendars, I've noted the following: The last freeze in '04 was on April 17. The last freeze in 1995 was May 17, in 1995, April 20. These are a few samples of how difficult it is predicting the weather. My suggestion is to keep your own Daily Engagement Calendar at your home and note the first and the last freeze, rainfall, snowfall; the first tomato, first apple, last basil, and last harvest of anything. And compare these dates with the size of your lumber shed, or old, wet wood under a tarp.

The lovely birds that spent the autumn, winter and spring with us slowly depart. I've noted since 1974 the arrival of white-crowned sparrows and this date varies like the weather. The true challenge is to note when was the last time you saw this bird, or another species you enjoy. This is a record to cherish and share if you are interested in birds. All of our migrant waterfowl and hawks are half-way to Washington or even Alaska by May.

These birds are replaced with violet-green swallows, cliff swallows, Lazuli buntings, orioles, wrens, grosbeaks, tanagers, flycatchers, hummingbirds and all the flying treasures that call Julian their home.

One treasure of May is to sit outside and listen to these birds. Often you will hear them before you see them. And, if you are specifically attentive, you will detect the last call of Canada geese, mallards or osprey. And the first calls of migrants are always a treat even if it's only a black-chinned sparrow or a killdeer. But remember the important aspect of these birds is not their names, but the music that fills the forests and meadows and our lives.

Most all of us have seen the ground squirrels sitting tall on a rock or scampering across the road. These mammals signal the essence of the equinox and set up territory. Unfortunately, our western gray squirrel is seldom seen. Often they have fallen prey to something we cannot see or hear; we are left with only a diagnosis: Pasturilea multocida, a commonly spread disease by their saliva. Our gray fox will once again set up its territory and help itself, much to the gardeners delight, to gophers and ground squirrels. I've even seen a sign saying "Gophers here. Take all you want."

As the grasses wave their last green tails into the air and turn brown on dry hillsides, the announcement of summer often arrives. This is the Farewell-to-Spring or Summer's Darling: A dainty burgundy flower two feet high.

May is our celebration of the Wildflower Show, held downstairs in the Town Hall. This year is the 80th annual Wildflower Show. Ladies from the Julian Woman's Club fan out in 15-mile radius of Julian and select our true flowering treasures. Perhaps the most dominant and surely the biggest flower is from the yucca. My favorite is the western dogwood, dowingia and pine violets. These last two species are referred to as "belly flowers," as they grow only an inch or two high.

In the night sky, Orion sets into the Pacific while the mighty Scorpios commands the southern sky. And yes, as we look for these constellations, mosquitos fire into us like they were sent by Orion.

May, as with all times of the year can be a wonderful sense of memories, whether the number of ants on the picnic blanket, to cirrus clouds or damp mornings followed by warm lazy days. Stick around, spend some time and enjoy a mountain of delights and adventures.