Tornadoes down south, snow up north
Solar blast leads to auroras birth
Brazil dealing with monster floods
Here sun & wind drying the muds
Today On Earth
April 2024 - On & Off Earth
I occasionally wonder, where have the bugs been lurking that appear on the first warm day? Even in the midst of winter, if it gets warm, and it does here in the Old Dominion, there are bugs flitting about looking for a tasty human snack. Do they have their own weather app? If they are able to appear so quickly, where were they on the bitter cold day just yesterday? Seems risky to be so ready to venture out, suck some blood, breed, then die… But, there they are.
The lion/lamb interplay that seems to be closing down March will certainly offer happy insect hunting come April; bats and flycatchers hunting bugs, bugs hunting animals. There is a positive side to the bug equation. Bugs are also seeking the sweet nectar tucked deep inside the blooming flowers bursting forth in April. That nectar lure, a strategic part of the plant’s life cycle is vitally important to us, as well. No bugs, bees or birds for pollination, no fruits, no veggies for a hungry human population.
A new gardening/growing zone map has just been released reflecting our new climate change reality; the southern zones marching ever northward. Does that mean the last frost dates are going to change? While trends are moving us in a warmer direction, Earth remains (human judgement) a fickle planet with an energized, extreme leaning, atmospheric bent; early tomato planters be wary and ever ready to protect young, delicate plants.
As I have previously, boldly forecast, every day, there will be weather. The weather watchers of early April have one main focus: clouds in the path of the eclipse. Millions already live in the path of the shadow, millions more will travel to see the wonder of daytime darkness. We will all be hoping for clear skies. I/we have no contingency plans, at this moment, for rapid migration to clearer air; our fingers remain crossed for bluebell skies in Texas. Earth truly in charge!
With clear skies, what will come into view as the moon blocks the sun on April 8th are the faint stars of Pisces. Jupiter will beam brightly off to the east, Venus, Mars, Saturn and perhaps Mercury, all now morning ‘stars’, just to the west. Eclipse watchers to be granted a rare glimpse at the daytime constellations and planets of Spring. I’m planning an On & Off Earth addendum in two weeks with my thoughts and hopefully some photos!!
The New moon will begin covering the sun in Louisa a little after 2pm that Monday. It will have covered about 85% of the sun at its peak at 3:19pm and be done at 4:30pm. IT WILL NEVER BE SAFE TO VIEW HERE WITHOUT ECLIPSE GLASSES!!
Beyond the Great American Eclipse frenzy, April will slide us deeper into the warmth and greening and blooming and bugs of Spring. The sun moves from Pisces into Aries on the 20th. We remember and celebrate our planet on the 22nd for the 54th year with Earth Day. The Full Pink Moon shines down (it won’t be pink… maybe… just as it rises) on the 23rd. Jupiter, sinking lower in the west each day after sunset, gets one last visit from a crescent moon on the 10th.
As made all to real by a local, costly fire, thirsty plants, a hot sun and spring winds combine to remove any recent rain rapidly; the spring fire threat remains very real. NO BURNING UNTIL AFTER 4pm is the law all month and all fires require constant vigilance; mistakes can be tragic!
It is Spring and only change awaits us all. Joy and danger lurk in those changes, let’s hope we adapt to those changes as well as the insects looking to us for their next meal. Happy and safe eclipse watching!!
Randy Holladay
Oldrockguy@gmail.com
google sucks so bad as a word processor, designed by dweebs sending tweets..
you would think the icing side was always place up...but NO!! sometimes
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