Sarasota Almanac March 2010

Sarasota Almanac: March 2010
This month brings the Spring Equinox (March 20, 1:32 p.m.). There are about equal hours of daylight and dark at the equinox, as the sun shines most directly on the equator; in fact "equinox" means equal night. Daylight will gradually continue to increase until we reach the Summer Solstice on June 21.

The equinox has often been celebrated as a time of rebirth. Easter and other holidays are often celebrated at this time of year. Higan (Buddhist) is celebrated in Japan where both spring and fall equinoxes are national holidays. The Baha'i new year is celebrated on the equinox as well as the Iranian New Year.

In ancient Celtic paganism, the equinox would be considered mid-spring; Candlemass (February 2) was their first day of spring.

Of course, in the southern hemisphere, our spring or "vernal" equinox is their autumn equinox.

This is a good time to start new projects, and plant new seeds (literal and metaphorical).

New Moon: March 15, 2010

Full Moon: March 29

Meteor Showers: No major showers this month

Other astronomical events: Bootes (the herdsman), and Leo the Lion are very visible now

Other Observations in the World Around Us:
Light: Daylight increasing as we approach the equinox

Temperature: Spring like temperatures with low humidity are normal

Crops: cool weather crops as well as tomatoes

Foliage: Bougainvillea usually in bloom; citrus blossoming; lichee's in bloom; gold trees start blooming; loquats ripening. Still pollen from the oaks in bloom. The catkins (blooms) will drop soon. It will look like brown snow! Fruits on prickly pears are just starting to appear. The first sycamore leaves and red maples continue to leaf out.

Animal Activity: Carolina Wrens singing a lot; whippoorwills as well. Birds very active in the morning. Signs of crows nesting. Herring gulls are still here; will migrate soon. Laughing Gulls are still in breeding plumage (black heads and bright red/orange mouths).