The month of the Winter Solstice… let’s take a look at the December Observations at the Cove…
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH | APRIL | MAY | JUNE| JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER
December Flora…
Leaves of maples, gums, grapes, and more turning color, Golden Raintree finishing its yellow blooms and showing the reddish colored seed pods. Mexican Mint Marigolds in bloom, Heavy fog in the mornings, and mosquitos are still an issue due to the warmer temperatures during November. The Hickory trees are bright yellow by Christmas and we enjoyed the orange color on the persimmon tree Aloe vera in full bloom. We harvested the last ripe key limes on the 9th.
December Fauna…
December mornings begin early. At dawn, the resident Sand Hill Cranes call each day throughout the pond. They have been absent for a while. Geese were heard on the first day of December. Armadillos aren’t active as is the squirrel population.
December Celestial Observations…
When the “Full Cold Moon” rises on Dec. 3, it will also be the first and last “supermoon” of 2017. We watched it rise, so orange and beautiful. December 13th, the moon meets mars. December 13 – 14 Geminid Meteor Shower peak, December 21-22 Ursid Meteor Shower peak. From our dock, we will see Orion, high in the East, Taurus, Aires, and Pisces in the southern sky.
