Solar Eclipse!
Yesterday, I, along with thousands of others, crowded along the edge of Lake Champlain in Burlington, VT to witness the solar eclipse in its totality. It was an emotional experience. My eyes filled with tears as I was reminded of being a small part in a big picture who is living in a place filled with beauty and unexpected moments of awe. For just over three minutes I was speechless and staring. Others hooted and hollered around me. Everyone experiencing a different reaction to this awe-inspiring celestial phenomenon, it was amazing.
As the moon crept closer to the sun and the air began to cool the seagulls who had been sitting quietly amongst the humans began to stir. They started squawking and flying in dizzying circles. The moon continued on its path as the seagulls performed their pre-dusk dance and then, as the sky got dark, a woman near to me pointed out that the seagulls were gone from the sky. Triggered by the loss of light, the birds got quiet and restful.
Did the plants around us have any reaction?
Because the darkness caused by a total solar eclipse lasts for such a short time, there is no major effect on plants. A survey conducted by the University of Missouri-Columbia during a 2017 eclipse found that some plants closed their flowers during the darkness of totality and others followed the light of the sun as the moon passed over, exhibiting the behavior known as phototropism. Beyond that, plants were unfazed.
That being said, plants are most definitely affected by the moon throughout its predictable phases! The traditional wisdom of gardening by the moon can serve as a guide as you plan and plant your garden. Yesterday, the sun was being blocked by a New Moon in Aries. How does that guide us?
During a New or Full Moon water is pulled up to the surface of the soil thanks to the moon’s gravitational pull. This causes seeds to swell thanks to the easy access to water, which makes it a great time to plant seeds for a higher success rate of germination and better established growth.
Now, the day after the New Moon, we are in a waxing phase of the moon as it moves from new-ness to full-ness. As the moonlight increases each night, plants are encouraged to grow leaves and stems. Making this is a great time to plant annual flowers or any edible crops whose leaves, stems, fruits or seeds you want to flourish.
The 12 signs of the zodiac are associated with different gardening tasks as well. The moon takes about two days to move through each sign. Yesterday’s New Moon was in Aries which is associated with harvesting, weeding, plowing and pruning. Today, the moon has moved into Taurus which makes it a great day to plant, transplant or graft.
With the sun shining as it is, I am definitely feeling the pull to get out into the garden!