We’ve had the Wolf Moon (January), Snow Moon (February), Worm Moon (March), and this month, the Pink Moon. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, this name came from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earlier widespread flowers of spring. Other names for this month’s celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and among coastal tribes the Full Fish Moon, because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.
Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. A couple years ago Susan and I had the pleasure of taking a hike, under a full moon, in Bryce Canyon, Utah. The ranger/guide/interpreter told a completely different story about moon names as designated by tribes of that region.
Though the stories were different, the theme was the same: Living one’s life by the phases of moon is much less stressful, or at least has more romantic appeal, than does the artificial calendar we’ve created.
Looking ahead, we have the Flower Moon (May), Strawberry Moon (June), Buck Moon (July), Sturgeon Moon (August), Corn Moon (September), Hunter’s Moon (October), Beaver Moon (November), Cold Moon or Long Nights Moon (December).
But let’s not rush things. Let’s concentrate on flowers and strawberries.
These images were made April 4, a couple days ahead of the actual Full Pink Moon, with some help from our crabapple tree.
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