July - The Buck Moon

July's Moon has several names, and one of the most commonly used is the "Buck Moon". In July, bucks' antlers were said to be full grown and at their finest. What's so special about antlers at this time of year?

Each year, some species of deer lose their antlers and grow a new set. The old antlers are cast, and then grow back over a few months under the cover of furry skin known as "velvet". When the antlers reach their full size, the velvet is rubbed off and the "clean" antlers appear. This isn't always in July (it depends upon the deer species), but it still makes a splendid story.

Many Native American names for the July moon come from hunting and crops. It's the "Salmon", "Raspberry" and "Ripe Corn" moon. The Mohawk phrase expresses it the best: "The time of much ripening".

Elsewhere, the theme of growing and harvesting continues. A common British name is the "Hay Moon" and also the "Herb Moon", as it's the best time to start drying out herbs for the winter. This appears in some versions as the "Wyrt Moon", the moon of healing herbs. The variation of this in Maine USA is the "Grass Cutter Moon".

Check the long-range forecast, and make sure you get your herbs harvested and your hay cut while they're still dry: the July moon isn't called the "Thunder Moon" for nothing…