Lunar Gardening

The Lunar Cycle is the time in which the Moon goes from a new Moon to a full Moon.

The Moon plays a big part in the natural world, its gravitational pull causes the tides to come in and out on every beach!

The Moon also brings water into the soil in the same way, which helps seeds sprout at the start of their season.

The Moon also helps animals such as the Loggerhead Turtle by giving of a light that tells them it is time to return to the shore to have their babies.

Jennifer Pickles says - Monday comes from the Latin words - die lunae which means Moons day

Dan the Gardener says - The Moon can helps us out a lot in the garden here is a few tips.

New Moon - Time for planting seeds because there is a lot of moisture in the soil, also a good time for re-potting plants.

Full Moon - Time to transplant strong plants, not much water in the soil, good time to pull up weeds and to prune plants.

Did you know that the Moon passes between the Earth and the sun every 29 and a half days, this is where months come from.

In a whole Lunar cycle the Moon goes through different stages

New Moon - this is when the Sun and Moon are in the same part of the sky. At this time you cannot see the Moon because the Suns light outshines the reflection coming from the Moon. The new Moon can only be seen in a solar eclipse.

Full Moon - this is when the Sun and Moon are in different parts of the sky so the Moon shines because it is reflecting the Suns light.

Waxing Moon - when the Moon grows larger going towards a full Moon.

Waning Moon - when the moon gets smaller going towards a new Moon.

Honey Moon - during the full Moon in June the Bees hives are full of honey, this honey is taken to make a drink.

This is where the word Honeymoon comes from because when a couple got married on the June full Moon they would drink the Moon Honey drink.

Blue Moon - every now and again a lunar cycle has two full Moons, this does not happen often but when it does the second Moon is called a Blue Moon.