New moon: in Libra, Sept. 29
Full moon: in Pisces, Sept. 15
The stars: Aquila, the Eagle, Cygnus, the Swan, and Capricornus are visible in the northern hemisphere
Gem stone: Sapphire
Flower: Aster
Astrological sign: Virgo, Aug. 23 to Sept. 22; Libra, Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
Harvard history snippet:
In 1837 Harvard granted the use of Town Hall for lectures “on moral, scientific, religious, and political subjects,” but forbade its use for discussions “on any subject affecting the right of domestick slavery in the United States.” That ban was lifted in 1839.
—Based on a report by Robert C. Anderson in his book, Directions of a Town
What to do in the garden:
Harvest vegetables and prepare for winter storage. Collect seeds from the best specimens for next year’s garden and store in a cool, dry place. Clean up and store garden aids, such as plant markers, seedling pots.
Household tips:
Store lettuce in the refrigerator in paper bags instead of plastic and leave the outer leaves on until ready to use; store celery in tinfoil.
Going green:
- At the grocery store, seek out products made of recycled material, such as paper napkins or toilet paper. The packages are usually labeled with a circle of arrows.
- Save containers for cleaning products such as glass cleaners, and buy refills in the largest size at the store.
- To reduce your consumption of packaging, buy products in bulk whenever possible.
Thought for the month:
“For summer there, bear in mind, is a loitering gossip, that only begins to talk of leaving when September rises to go.”
—George Washington Cable (1844–1925), American novelist
Do you have an almanac tidbit you’d like to share? E-mail to editor@harvardpress.com
