PHENOLOGY: NATURE'S CALENDAR

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. –Frank Lloyd Wright, American architect (1867–1959)

For centuries, farmers and gardeners have looked to events in nature to tell them when to plant vegetables and flowers and when to expect insects. Making such observations is called "phenology," the study of phenomena. Specifically, this refers to the life cycles of plants and animals as they correlate to weather and temperature, or nature's calendar.

VEGETABLES

■ Plant peas when forsythias bloom.

■ Plant potatoes when the first dandelion blooms.

■ Plant beets, carrots, cole crops (broccoli, brussels sprouts, collards), lettuce, and spinach when lilacs are in first leaf or dandelions are in full bloom.

■ Plant corn when oak leaves are the size of a squirrel's ear (about ½ inch in diameter). Or, plant corn when apple blossoms fade and fall.

■ Plant bean, cucumber, and squash seeds when lilacs are in full bloom.

■ Plant tomatoes when lilies-of-the-valley are in full bloom.

■ Transplant eggplants and peppers when bearded irises bloom.

■ Plant onions when red maples bloom.

FLOWERS

■ Plant morning glories when maple trees have full-size leaves.

■ Plant zinnias and marigolds when black locusts are in full bloom.

■ Plant pansies, snapdragons, and other hardy annuals when aspens and chokecherries have leafed out.

INSECTS

■ When purple lilacs bloom, grasshopper eggs hatch.

■ When chicory blooms, beware of squash vine borers.

■  When Canada thistles bloom, protect susceptible fruit; apple maggot flies are at peak.

■ When foxglove flowers open, expect Mexican beetle larvae.

■ When crabapple trees are in bud, eastern tent caterpillars are hatching.

■ When morning glory vines begin to climb, Japanese beetles appear.

■ When wild rocket blooms, cabbage root maggots appear.

If the signal plants are not growing in your area, notice other coincident events; record them and watch for them in ensuing seasons.