Kaw Valley AlmanacMay 1 - 7, 2017

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Native prairies are getting more flowers in them, as is evidenced bythis blooming creamy wild indigo plant. Others include lousewort,hoary puccoon, starry eyed grass, oxalis, prairie violet, verbena,

pussytoes, wild strawberries and maybe prairie parsley.

Sun

Venus low E, Saturn SW at dawn; Jupiter southeast at dusk

Nature Notes § With a break in the rains, see if you can smell the fragranceof honey/black locust blossoms. Woodland blooms include jack-in-the-pulpit, May apple, woodland phlox and buckeye, and who

knows: maybe you can find a late morel or two. Wildraspberries are beginning to bloom, cherries are forming as are

gooseberries, strawberries and wild plums. Invasivehoneysuckle is blooming and garlic mustard is spreading as

well--now is a good time to remove both. § Soybeans and milo planting will be in full swing as soon asfields dry out some, while wheat is growing quickly. Corn isbeginning to pop up and will grow noticably each day for the

next few months. Brome pastures are growing quickly, and willbegin to form seedheads and allergy-producing pollen in a

couple of weeks. § Coyotes, turkeys, skunks, opossums, turkey vultures,

swallows, foxes, copperheads and rabbits are raising youngright now--drive carefully!

§ Early May is peak breeding season for resident songbirdsincluding meadowlark, flicker, bluejay and cardinal. Many local

fish also star spawning, including carp, sunfish and many typesof shiners. Wasps are building nests and bumblebees are out.

Day Gets light Sunrise Sunset Gets darkMonday 05:24 AM 06:22 AM 08:14 PM 09:20 PMTuesday 05:22 AM 06:21 AM 08:15 PM 09:21 PM

Wednesday 05:21 AM 06:20 AM 08:16 PM 09:23 PMThursday 05:19 AM 06:19 AM 08:17 PM 09:24 PMFriday 05:18 AM 06:18 AM 08:18 PM 09:25 PM

Saturday 05:17 AM 06:17 AM 08:19 PM 09:26 PMSunday 05:15 AM 06:16 AM 08:19 PM 09:27 PM

Day Moon rises Moon sets % Illum. PhaseMonday 11:17 AM 06:36 PM 12:59 AM 35%Tuesday 12:20 PM 07:31 PM 01:51 AM 46% 1st Quarter

Wednesday 01:24 PM 08:23 PM 02:35 AM 57%Thursday 02:26 PM 09:11 PM 03:14 AM 67%Friday 03:27 PM 09:58 PM 03:49 AM 77%

Saturday 04:26 PM 10:43 PM 04:21 AM 85%Sunday 05:24 PM 11:26 PM 04:52 AM 91%

Moon south