February Sarasota Almanac

Early February brings the little known celebration of Candlemass or Candelaria. In the Christian Church, it marks 40 days after Christmas, a time of “purification” of the Mother Mary before presenting baby Jesus at the Temple.



This date has much earlier, pagan ("country people") roots, however. It has also been known as Imbolc, a more earth-centered celebration in Europe, which speaks of the beginning of the agricultural growing season. Weather forecasting was included in these rituals. Sacred bears or badgers supposedly left their dens on this day, and if they saw their shadow, they’d go back to hibernate longer. Sound familiar? The people of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry brought the custom to this country where it is now celebrated as Groundhog Day.


February 2 is the date about mid-point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

New Moon: February 14


Full Moon: February 28


Meteor Showers: no major showers


Other Astronomical Events: none, except we came close to having a "blue moon" (second full moon in one month) this month; the full moon was on January 30.

Other Observations in the world around us

Light: Light is gradually increasing; we are about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.


Temperature: We still may have some chilly weather.


Crops: Cool weather vegetables (salad greens, Asian greens) as well as plantings of cucumbers, eggplant, kohlrabi, and corn. Good time for cool weather herbs like cilantro.


Foliage: Hong Kong Orchid Trees usually bloom. Azaleas may start blooming, the pink azaleas first, followed by the white ones. Oak leaves will drop and trees will start to bloom. Oak pollen covers everything like an olive green patina.


Animal Activity: Bird song should be increasing in the mornings, especially by late February. Listen for unusual bird song of birds migrating back north. Look especially for large flocks of American Robins. Unlike up north, where we might see one or two at a time, right now you may be able to see 40, 50 or even more at a time! Cardinals are singing and flitting around a lot. Still should be nesting going on in the rookeries (wading birds like herons, egrets and others).