Full Moon
 Gardening by the moon is an age old practice. Since the moon controls ocean tides, it is believed that it influences the groundwater tables beneath our feet and the movement of fluids in plants. This is why planting at a certain phase and harvesting at a certain phase is supposedly beneficial.  These photos I took of the moon by no means do it justice but they remind me just how amazing the moon is. 
    The size of the moon when it first appears on the horizon is enormous. It appears like that because our brains perceive a low moon to be larger than one that’s high in the sky. They actually have a name for this ~Moon Illusion. The moon also can appear warmer or reddish on the horizon. This is caused by moonlight passing through a larger amount of atmospheric particles than when the moon is overhead, this scatters the bluish part of moonlight (which is really white light reflecting from the sun), but it lets in the red parts of the light which travel a straighter path to our eyes.
 The Harvest moon is actually the full moon closest to the fall equinox. It usually occurs in late September or early October. It was called that because it’s brightness made it possible for farmers to harvest after dark.
 After doing a little reading I found out the November full moon which is also referred to as the Beaver moon which lets you know it is time to set your beaver traps before the swamps freeze. This info ensures a supply of warm winter furs for a trapper. So if you are a trapper, get to work soon. If you’re not you can do other things when the full moon is out like dance by the light of the moon, or howl at the moon, or turn into a werewolf…
It all sounds like lunacy to me. 
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November 4th, 2009 at: 12:57 am
Thanks so much for sharing this lunar knowledge with us. It was actually quite fascinating. I prefer to dance by the light of the moon. It’s always fun. That and moon shopping. I like to window shop at night.
Happy OW…
XO,
Sheila
November 4th, 2009 at: 1:54 am
Cool photos!
November 4th, 2009 at: 7:46 am
…..and the moon seems so bright this month too!! [at least in our area. guess maybe the sky is clearer this month, lol]
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November 4th, 2009 at: 10:27 am
Teresa, I loved your post. It was chock full of information I didn’t know and your photos are spectacular. I hope you are having a great Outdoor Wednesday
November 4th, 2009 at: 11:08 am
Ah, the full moon – when all the weird things seem to happen. Last month I found a torn-apart squirrel on the back deck the morning after the full moon. Thankfully, nothing was there this morning! Nice photos.
November 4th, 2009 at: 2:12 pm
One of the things I learned about moon phases is…you never spread gravel by the dark of the moon…Just in case anyone is worried about their gravel!!!
Great post!!!
November 4th, 2009 at: 5:15 pm
My grandmother always planted by the moon phases . I love the full moon . your pics are beautiful. The info is great.
~Myrna
November 4th, 2009 at: 7:13 pm
It makes sense, I wasn’t sure why the moon was looked upon for planting and such. I love gazing at it!
November 4th, 2009 at: 10:21 pm
We call it the Hunter’s Moon, the one that was just full 11/2.
November 4th, 2009 at: 11:03 pm
Great post. I totally agree with Emerson too.