May 2013 Overview (Second Half)

My apologies for not getting this to you at the beginning of May. That said, here’s a overview of the rest of the month of May so that you who are planting your gardens by the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac will have up to the minute information – and time to plan then plant.

The moon is in the light phase until 12:25 a.m.,  EDT May 25. This is the time for planting above-ground producers.

Then until 11:56 a.m.  June 8, the dark moon rules for below-ground producers.

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: Cancer (the breast), May 14-15; and Scorpio (secrets), May 22-24.

Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on days when Leo or Aries are in force. Reserve them for cultivating, cleaning out fence rows — anything but planting: Leo (the heart), May 16-17.

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so: Sagittarius (the thighs), 25-26; Capricorn (the knees), May 27-28; Aquarius (the legs), May 29-31.

Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers, blooming things in the greenhouse or for the house: Virgo (the bowels), May 18-19 and Libra (the reins), May 20-21. There are four days this month ruled by the two flowering signs, Virgo and Libra.

Ember Days: Without going into a lot of detail, we have three Ember Days this month, and these are days when no planting should be going on. Unfortunately, two of the Ember Days – May 22 and 24 – are when the fertile sign Scorpio is in force. But no matter: DON’T PLANT!

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 are going out of the body, past anything that “functions” so that means thighs, knees, legs and feet — Sagittarius through Pisces.

The days remaining in May and on into June are May 25-June 2. So, if you have changes to make you certainly have plenty of time in May and on into June.