Non-Profit Internet Source for News, Events, History, & Culture of Northern Frederick & Carroll County Md./Southern Adams County Pa.

 

March 2010

"When law can stop the blades of grass from growin' as they grow,
An' when the leaves in summertime their color dare not show,
Then I will change the color, too, I wear in my caubeen;
But till that day, plaise God, I'll stick to the Wearin' o' the Green.
                                             Author Unknown

Northeastern Region Weather Watch: Fair and cold (1,2) with Nor'easter bringing heavy snow (3,4,5). Windy with flurries (6,7) turning fair but rather cold (8,9,10,11,12,13). Snow or rain showers (14,15,16) returning to fair and cooler temperatures (17,18,19). More snow or rain (20,21,22,23,24), fair and cold (25,26,27,28) with windy, cold and some more flurries (29,30, 31).

Full Moon: March's Full Moon occurs on the 29th at 9:25PM. Many Native American Tribes called it WORM MOON because March's warmer temperatures often softened the earth just enough to allow earthworms to begin burrowing out of the ground. It also has been known as SAP MOON because the sap would start to rise and run at this time throughout the region.

Special Notes: Vernal Equinox occurs on Saturday, March 20th and signals the arrival of Spring (at long last!). Take advantage of the high winds during March (throughout the month, as The Almanack predicts!) and "go fly a kite" with a child. Nothing is as exhilarating except maybe flying itself!

Don't forget to set your clocks one hour ahead when Daylight Savings starts on Sunday, March 14h.

Holidays: Be sure to wear something green in honor of St. Patrick on Wednesday, March 17th!

The Garden: Get started early if the weather allows. If you did not do so in February, apply a pre-emergent herbicide (that prevents crabgrass) to established lawns before March 15th. If you plan to seed fescue lawns, do not apply a pre-emergent. It will prevent the grass seed from germinating. As soon as your compost pile thaws, start to turn it with a fork as best you can. March is prime time for feeding shrubs and perennials that bloom in the Summer months. Also, begin pruning early-flowering shrubs, roses, fruit trees, grapes, and raspberries. Start an all-purpose spray regimen. Be sure to feed well and use supplementary nitrogen in early Spring, in addition to yearly feeding. Spray fruit trees with a dormant oil when temperatures exceed 40 degrees and before they leaf out. Try and plant your peas on St. Patrick's Day. For best selection, buy summer bulbs like gladiola, cannas, irises, dahlias and lilies. Wait until mid to late April to plant.

J. Grubers' Thought for Today's Living:

"Never let a day go by that you don't more to your fellow man and to your community then you receive"

Index of Past Month's Entries