A Spring Moon is on the Rise

As we look for signs that Spring is officially here, sometimes you can come up a bit empty handed in the city. This was true when I tried to explain to my four year old that Winter is over. "Why?" he asked. "Well, because the calendar says so." It had snowed a few days prior and we were still wearing our overused down parkas. I did not have a better answer. The sprouts are doing great in their little pods overlooking an outdoor patio from the safety of indoors. Allison and I are trying our best at guessing when things should go outside to take full advantage of sun, rain, and nutrients therein. This applied to both the plants and our kids. So, where in fact is Spring?

"The moon," said my husband. 

photo: Marrisa Senteno

"The moon? What do you mean the moon?" I asked. 

"Yes the moon will tell us when it is Spring. This past moon was a big one, the biggest one, and the next moon is the one that set all growing things into motion. You will see..."

I have learned to listen to my husband when it comes to topics of the moon. He was raised a farmer, his grandfather taught him how to look at the moon to tell him when to grow plants, animals and to a certain extent, children. Well, the children really by extension of the plants and animals. Very earnest, in fact, about the moon that we have set certain important dates by the lunar calendar.

The city is not always the best place to observe the moon. We have started to teach Lucas how to look at the moon and to tell if it is getting bigger or smaller. Sometimes I cheat, I have an app on my kindle that shows the moon phase, because really in an urban setting, sometimes I can't find the moon.

Yet, very few in the city missed this past moon. It was huge, luminous and really entrancing. It was rising directly into my son's window where it would light up the apartment. And again my husband said "You see? That is the moon that says it is Spring. Everything is going to grow now, the trees are going to explode and your little plants should go out soon." So I will take his word for it, the Spring moon is here and none too soon. I hope you all did not miss it, because it was a beauty. Finally, Spring.