Poor Will's Almanack: December 17 - 23, 2019

Almost all the leaves are down, the old year spent and scattered. Even as storms bring wind and snow to close this season, the defiant and prophetic buds of pussy willows grow fat, A new year is beginning. It is time to watch for spring. This is solstice week, the sun reaching its lowest point on the horizon, on December 22, hovering there before it begins to rise once more toward summer. Just one more week until start of Deep Winter Two more weeks until the tufted titmouse begins its mating calls and pines start to pollinate. Three more weeks until the days begin to lengthen, owls nest and foxes mate Four weeks until the traditional January Thaw time, and blue jays give their bell-like mating call and cardinals consistently call out their territories before dawn Five weeks until the beginning of Late Winter, and day’s length surpasses ten hours and skunk cabbage blooms in the wetlands Six weeks until doves join the cardinals, and maple sap is running Seven weeks until the first red