A late-summer Monarch butterfly female. Her eggs have already hatched to become the "Methuselah" generation, the individuals that migrate to their wintering grounds in central Mexico. Photo: Leland M. Searles 2018
THE IOWA PHENOLOGY CALENDAR
The information in the calendar applies to most of the state, along with adjacent south central Minnesota, southwestern Wisconsin, western and northwestern Illinois, and far northern Missouri. In my travels, I've noticed some differences in the timing of plant flowering and other happenings, but with regular use you'll figure out the local timing pretty easily.
ASK ABOUT CALENDARS BY VISITING THE Contact Leeward PAGE AND SENDING A MESSAGE.
Consider calendars as:
* Holiday and birthday gifts.
* Prizes and gifts to employees or another special group
of people, perhaps students or environmental and
science teachers.
* Your personal guide to the outdoors, at home and at
work.
*"Swag" for conferences, employee parties, and other events.
In addition, if you are interested in using the calendar as a fundraiser for your business or organization, send a message through the Contact Leeward page.
What better way to become familiar with the natural world around you than have a calendar with the dates when things are happening? Photos of Iowa's plants and animals? And more?
THE 2027 IOWA PHENOLOGY CALENDAR IS ALREADY IN THE PLANNING AND EARLY DESIGN PHASE, AFTER A VERY SUCCESSFUL 2026 CALENDAR.
The big change in 2026 was to change from the typical 12-month calendar starting on January 1st to a calendar that now begins with the Winter Solstice on December 21. There are still twelve months, but the quarters begin on either a solstice or an equinox. This tunes the calendar more closely to the actual seasons in the Midwestern U.S. and the timing of seasonal events.
Don't send credit or debit card information by internet. If that's your preferred way to pay, please use the telephone.
PRICING: for 2026, Leeward was able to cut your price by $5 because of reduced printing costs. Hopefully this continues into the future. Past calendars sold at $25.
Below you'll find more on phenology, and every new calendar edition includes an explanation of it.
phenology
Phenology is the study of cycles and patterns in ecosystems. In the broadest sense, it is the transfer of the sun's energy through natural rhythms and life cycles. That definition is the one used by conservationist Aldo Leopold, who kept phenology records at his cabin and farm in central Wisconsin. Usually the focus is on life forms and the seasonal changes they experience, but these account for broader cycles, such as the exchange of water between air and surface.