fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Submit Your Event
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Send Letter to the Editor
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Springing slowly — The Pink Moon

by Dave Holden
April 20, 2024
in Columns, Nature
0
(Photo by Dion Ogust)

Finally Spring begins to unfold and this moon (interchangeable with ‘month,’ but runs from full moon to full moon) is the epitome of the season — bright, full of life and light — a time of rebirth and renewal. Rarely is this moon really pink, but this is the time when Moss Phlox (Phloxsubulata), also called Moss Pink and Creeping Ground Phlox flowers unfold in the Northeast.

Tribes further west in the Rockies, still mired in winter, called it Ice Breaking in the River Moon.

Other common Indigenous names for the full moon in April are Egg Moon, referring to birds laying their eggs, and the Fish Moon as fish return in numbers to northern waters. Don’t forget, spring is burgeoning everywhere in the northern hemisphere and all northern peoples had their names for this time, like the Celt’s Budding Moon and New Shoots Moon. 

To Slavicpeople it was the Birch Moon. In China it was called the Peony Moon, which is interesting since most peonies will be pink. Again, all these names reflect a common theme — the return of life,light and warmth to the Land. 

A major reason why the Full Pink Moon was so important was that it was the first full moon after the spring Equinox, which marks the halfway point between the winter and summer Solstices. Not only is it a major turning point in the year for native traditional peoples, but it coincides with some of the holiest times of different cultures and religions. 

Passover begins with the Pink Moon, or Pesach Moon. Easter, the modern Christian holiday of resurrection (inspired by the ancient Celtic holy day of Eostre, which celebrated the rebirth of Life), occurs on the first Sunday of what’s called the Paschal Moon. It is a special time, no matter how we celebrate it.

Birds eggs, yes; Fawns, no

If you can replace an egg that fell from its nest, please don’t hesitate to do so. I’m sure their parents will appreciate it. You can touch a bird-egg since they have no sense of smell. This is in contrast to a newborn fawn, which, amazingly, is born without scent. This incredible adaptation allows the doe to leave it in tall grass while she desperately feeds to regain strength, knowing that predators (Black Bear and Coyotes, for instance) will not smell it. So bird-eggs, yes, and fawns, no. Actually, if you handle the fawn you may imbue it with your scent and mom will most likely reject it, so please.

Winterspring…

As you can tell, I love spring (who doesn’t?). The only issue I have with it is that it takes seemingly forever for it to come to fruition. All of the other seasons fairly zip along, by comparison. Maybe it would help if we made four minor seasons in between the four major ones —winterspring; summerspring; summerfall and winterfall. Then it might be easier to adapt from one to the other. Still I think spring will always suffer from our green expectations after so long without verdure.

To reach “Ranger” Dave Holden, call 845-594-4863 or email woodstocktrails@gmail.com; also see Woodstock Trails on Facebook; rangerdaveholden on Instagram or www.woodstocknytrails.com.

For full-length-vesion of this article visit my blog.

Tags: members
Join the family! Grab a free month of HV1 from the folks who have brought you substantive local news since 1972. We made it 50 years thanks to support from readers like you. Help us keep real journalism alive.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher

Dave Holden

Related Posts

Gala for Wild Earth celebrates nature and education
Entertainment

Gala for Wild Earth celebrates nature and education

June 20, 2025
How we see each other and ourselves
Columns

How we see each other and ourselves

June 16, 2025
Suddenly summer
Columns

Suddenly summer

June 11, 2025
Outer space clickbait
Columns

Outer space clickbait

June 11, 2025
Cloud-watching: a summer guide
Nature

Cloud-watching: a summer guide

June 7, 2025
What the newspapers said 100 years ago
Columns

What the newspapers said 100 years ago

June 2, 2025
Next Post
Manna Jo Greene looks back on 23 years of environmental advocacy at Clearwater

Veteran county legislator acclaimed at monthly meeting

Weather

Kingston, NY
84°
Sunny
5:19 am8:36 pm EDT
Feels like: 93°F
Wind: 2mph SSW
Humidity: 77%
Pressure: 30.08"Hg
UV index: 3
TueWedThu
100°F / 72°F
93°F / 70°F
79°F / 63°F
powered by Weather Atlas

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

×
We've expanded coverage and need your support. Subscribe now for unlimited access -- free article(s) remain for the month.
View Subscription Offers Sign In
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Art
    • Books
    • Kids
    • Lifestyle & Wellness
    • Food & Drink
    • Music
    • Nature
    • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    • Hey Kingston
    • New Paltz Times
    • Woodstock Times
    • Week in Review

© 2022 Ulster Publishing