Kaw Valley AlmanacJuly 27 – Aug. 2, 2020

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This widow skimmer dragonfly, Libellula luctuosa, is a male,which has a powdery blue body as opposed to the yellow andblack body of the female. Many dragonfly larvae emerge into

adults in July and August, and there sure seem to be plenty ofthem this summer. It’s the perfect time to learn to identify

these mosquito eaters and their cousin damselflies.

Sun Venus E, Mars SE at dawn, Jupiter, Saturn SE after dusk

Live outside the Lawrence area? Get rise and setting times, moondata where you live at: https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/

Nature Notes § With a waxing moon growing brighter every night, this is agood time to drive slowly on a lightly used country gravel road

to see what kind of animal is taking advantage of themoonlight. Roll down your windows and you’ll be surprised athow noisy it is: record it to ID what is making all of the racket! § Showy partridge pea has yellow flowers and is just one of

the nitrogen fixing legumes currently blooming, along with leadplant, sensitivebrier, rabbit’s foot lespedeza, Illinois

bundleflower, purple and white prairie clover. § Other prairie plants blooming right now include water

hemlock, ironweed, compassplant and a few other perennialsunflowers, gray coneflower, gayfeather, wild petunia and

slender mountain mint. Hedge parsley seeds have matured intosticktites that get in your socks and on your pants.

§ Warm season tallgrasses have been responding to the hot,moist summer we've been having by shooting up their

seedheads. Check any local prairie for switchgrass, big and littlebluestem and indiangrass seedheads which can reach over 7feet tall. Sideoats grama is smaller and has already matured. § Spiderwebs are thick in the woods—carry a stick if you

don’t want to get covered in them. Ticks and chiggers are stillgoing strong—be sure to shower after a hike!

Day Moon rises South Moon sets % Illum/PhaseMonday 02:03 PM 07:39 PM 12:34 AM 1st QuarterTuesday 03:14 PM 08:32 PM 01:07 AM 67%

Wednesday 04:24 PM 09:26 PM 01:43 AM 78%Thursday 05:31 PM 10:23 PM 02:24 AM 86%Friday 06:34 PM 11:20 PM 03:11 AM 93%

Saturday 07:30 PM 04:05 AM 93%Sunday 08:17 PM 12:16 AM 05:04 AM 98%

Day Gets light Sunrise Sunset Gets darkMonday 05:16 AM 06:17 AM 08:36 PM 09:46 PMTuesday 05:17 AM 06:18 AM 08:35 PM 09:45 PM

Wednesday 05:18 AM 06:19 AM 08:34 PM 09:44 PMThursday 05:20 AM 06:20 AM 08:33 PM 09:43 PMFriday 05:21 AM 06:21 AM 08:32 PM 09:42 PM

Saturday 05:22 AM 06:22 AM 08:31 PM 09:40 PMSunday 05:23 AM 06:23 AM 08:30 PM 09:39 PM