Overview for June 2012

If you’re hard at it in your garden I hope you’re trying to plant according to the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac to simply enhance your good gardening practices.

My apologies for this being a few days late. That said, here’s the rest of the month of June, according to the phase of the moon and signs of the zodiac.

The moon

The moon is in the dark phase now and will remain there until 11:02 a.m. EDT June 19. Through June 18, plant only those veggies that produce beneath the ground, preferably in a fertile sign but definitely NOT in a killing one!

The light moon for above-ground producers comes to rule just after 11 a.m. on the 19th and continues in force until July 3.

Again: when the light moon is in force proceed with only light-moon activities and planting above-ground producing veggies. Conversely, when the dark moon is in force it’s below-ground producers. Check the list below for other dark-moon activities.

The signs

Remember: Check to see if the moon is in the light or dark phase (information above) before proceeding with planting or other activities, indoors or out.

Fertile signs: the most fertile signs in the zodiac rule these days: June 11-13, Pisces (the feet); June 16-17, Taurus (the neck); June 20-21, Cancer (the breast). June 29-30, Scorpio (the secrets). There are nine days remaining this month ruled by the fertile signs: Scorpio, Taurus, Pisces and Cancer – and that’s a whole lot of fertile days!

Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on these days. Reserve them for cultivating, cleaning out fence rows – anything but planting: June 14-15, Aries (the head) and June 22-23, Leo, (the heart). There are fortunately only four killing days in June, those ruled by either Aries or Leo.

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so: June 4-5, Sagittarius (the thighs); June 6-8, Capricorn (the knees); June 9-10, Aquarius (the legs).

Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting your summer flowers as well as blooming things in the greenhouse or for the house: June 24-25, Virgo (the bowels); June 26-28, Libra (the reins). There are five days this month ruled by the two flowering signs, Virgo and Libra.

Gemini days: Gemini rules the arms and is in force on June 18-19. Gemini days are specifically “bean days,” however, June 18 is still with the dark moon in force but you’ll have after 11 a.m. EDT on June 19 with the light moon ruling.

General tips

Again, here are a few general tips for activities other than planting:

- If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that in the light of the moon so the gravel won’t sink. Same applies for stones on a garden path: Place them when the moon is in the light phase so they don’t sink. Check above for the right days.

- If you’re setting fence posts, do that in the light of the moon so the posts don’t sink.

- If you’re putting on a new shingle roof, do that when the moon’s in the dark phase so that the shingles stick down and don’t curl up on the ends.

- If you have changes to make like stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program, weaning small animals or children, scheduling elective surgery – anything that requires a change – here’s the formula: The moon in the dark phase and the signs going out of the body, past anything that “functions” so that means thighs, knees, legs and feet – Sagittarius through Pisces. Days this month that perfectly fit the formula continue through June 13.