Sunday, April 1, 2012

My Garden Notebook - April 2012



It is April 1, and I am documenting my garden on the first of every month.


As April begins, spring has been here for about a month. So many things are blooming or have bloomed. It is an accelerated spring--early and many things blooming at once. It is not often that the dogwoods are blooming at the same time as the daffodils. There is a surge of color all around the garden.





Redbud Trees around Yoshino Cherry Tree


stats


Gardening Zone: 7a
March High Temperature: 86 degrees F
March Low Temperature: 30 degrees F


Precipitation: 1.38 inches


wildlife


There is a Carolina Chickadee pair nesting in one of the birdhouses I placed on the cherry tree. They go in and out multiple times a day building the nest. I am unable to see inside the small entrance hole, but I am glad they are using the house.


Carolina Chickadee


As I have mentioned before, I have been trying to get some photos of one or both of the pileated woodpeckers that frequent the wooded area near my house. I recently got a photograph of one as it was landing near a log. It is not the best of photographs, but I am glad to have this beautiful bird on film.

Pileated Woodpecker


Another bird I have been attempting to photograph is the Great Horned Owl that I often hear at night and the early morning. I finally was able to get a photograph, but he was very far away. I got more of a silhouette.




And my first sighting of an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail...



blooms and sprouts


So much is in bloom now. Daffodils and tulips are blooming...and trees are blooming.




The Carolina jessamine is blooming and is so very fragrant. Each time I walk by it, the aroma is enough to keep me around for at least a few moments.


Carolina Jessamine - Gelsemium sempervirens

Carolina Jessamine - Gelsemium sempervirens


My early tulips are blooming.


Triumph Tulip Dream World


The Yoshino cherry trees are blooming.



My rose bushes and the oakleaf hydrangea are leafing out. Forsythia and primroses are in bloom.

Knock-out Roses, Forsythia, Primroses, Oakleaf Hydrangea

These are the buds of the cherry tree before it bloomed. The double daffodils are some of the last to bloom, and they are just now beginning to open. Many of my rosemary plants are blooming, and the peach tree bloomed. To my surprise, there was a small ladybug sitting on a leaf near a bloom.

Dwarf Peach Blossoms, Rosemary, Cherry Tree Blossom Buds, Double Daffodils


Even the dogwood blooms are beginning to open, and creeping phlox is blooming in some areas.

Pink Dogwood - Cornus florida

Creeping Phlox - Phlox stolonifera


vegetable garden

I transplanted the peas from the small seedling container to one of the vegetable garden beds. They survived a freeze in early March, and now are growing very nicely. I had sown some spinach seeds, and they are just now sprouting. In the meantime, I bought a few spinach plants to have spinach before the summer.


We harvested the last crop of brussel sprouts, and all of the broccoli plants have been bolting. I removed them from the garden and into the compost pile. I still have mustard greens, kale, lettuce, and chard leftover from the winter. The mustard greens are bolting as well, but I have been trimming the seedheads before they open to continue to harvest the leaves.

Brussel Sprouts

I planted some tomatoes and used the Wall O Water for the first few nights of freezing temperatures. Since then, the temperatures have warmed enough where I no longer need them.

Spinach Seedling, Snowpeas, Spinach, Tomato


completed garden chores


trimmed liriope
tested soil
spread lime
spread compost in garden beds
weeded garden beds
sowed sweet pepper, cucumber, and squash seeds
planted parsley, basil, dill, cilantro, sage in herb garden
planted pineapple sage in front garden beds


garden chores for April


walk around garden and determine where to place more daffodil bulbs in the fall
edge garden beds
mulch
sow bean and okra seeds
plant annuals in containers
plant annuals in garden beds
trim boxwood shrubs
sow cypress vine seeds
sow moonflower seeds


projects and plans


The composting area is in need of reconstruction. I used logs to form my three bin system, but the logs are rotting. I purchased some cedar bins that I want to use to replace these old bins.


inspirations


I am inspired by the spring weather and the spring blossoms--adorning my garden palette with fragrance, color, and life.




What is in your Garden Notebook for April?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I will be linking this post to the following blogs:

Helen of The Patient Gardener hosts End of Month View. This monthly meme is where garden bloggers share their garden views for the end of the month.

Also, Town Mouse Country Mouse hosts First Views. This monthly meme offers an opportunity for garden bloggers to share their garden first views for the month.


I am linking up with The Gardening Blog for Garden Bloggers Harvest Day for April.


I am hosting the Earth Day Reading Project again this year to celebrate Earth Day. 

© copyright 2012 Michelle A. Potter

48 comments:

  1. I can't believe how advanced your season is compared to Seattle! I envy you the Jessamine.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Karen. Everything is blooming much earlier than most years. There are advantages to having so much blooming at once.

      Delete
  2. I love the contrast of the redbud and the cherry trees.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Theta. It is not often that they are both at the same stage of bloom.

      Delete
  3. So beautiful to see nature seems to be exploding into green and colors.
    Have a lovely sunday Michelle and enjoy everything there is to see and thats a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is beautiful to see all the explosion of life and blooms at this time of year.

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Thanks, Makarimi. We got a surge of color this spring...

      Delete
  5. Your images of spring in your part of the world is simply stunning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spring came early, but it burst forth with a bang.

      Delete
  6. I like the wall o water for protecting your tomatoes. Never seen it done before seeing yours. Everything in your garden looks beautiful. You will have your enchanted garden soon I think.

    Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Cindy. The wall o water protection comes in handy when I want to plant tomatoes early.

      Delete
  7. Michelle your garden is so lovely and what luck you were able to capture a few bird pics that are amazing. I usually do a garden journal during the season and will continue it...your post inspires me to make sure I do continue this practice and I will be linking in so folks also can be inspired...also linking in to your Reading Project...Happy April!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Donna. I am looking forward to reading your journal. And I am looking forward to seeing your post for the Earth Day Reading Project.

      Delete
  8. Wow, there's a lot going on in your garden. I can only imagine what it'll look like by the end of the month. Nice job capturing the owl!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was thrilled to finally capture a photo of the owl. Perhaps, if I am lucky, I can get a better shot next time.

      Delete
  9. You haven't taken pictures, lovely lady, you've created art, these are professional wallpapers. Microsoft should hire you :).
    I am way behind on gardening, we're still waiting for a kinder spring wave. Kisses.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very kind, unikorna. I enjoy doing it--paid or not. I hope spring comes your way soon.

      Delete
  10. Holy sh$#%ll$! Those are incredible pics. You had me at the macro of the tulip, but then you slapped some birds shots(with an awesome sighting of an owl)! What's not to love about your garden right now:)? April notebook....hmmmm....keepin the Live Oaks from dropping more leaves AND keepin the pollen out of our house:) That stuff is nasty:) Beautiful shots.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Rohrerbot, for your kind words. We have lots of pollen now as well. The deck is covered with it.

      Delete
  11. Your cherry trees are amazing. Thanks for joining in again this month

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your cherry trees are amazing. Thanks for joining in again this month

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love seeing the change of seasons in the reverse and it reminds me of all the things I should be planting so that in 6 months time, I can be enjoying spring too! Here, we are well and truly into autumn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always enjoy seeing the seasons of other places as well. In winter, it is nice to see blooms and sunshine elsewhere in the world.

      Delete
  14. Wow, there's a lot blooming in your garden, and I'm also enjoying the photos of the birds. I agree, it's very difficult to get a decent photo.

    Thanks for sharing your first views!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was my pleasure. I will keep trying to get better photos.

      Delete
  15. Lovely pictures. The cherry blossom is outstanding. I was very impressed with the Carolina Jessamine but sad to discover it is not reliably hardy over here.
    Brave of you to list garden chores - my garden to do list never seems to get any shorter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After I write these posts, I always add more to those lists. Gardening is an ongoing process...

      Delete
  16. What a lovely Spring in your garden! I didn't realize we are in the same garden zone. It's mostly just green at our place right now. The flowers will come along later. Creeping phlox is the only thing that's blooming in my garden as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Creeping phlox is so lovely when it spreads. I am waiting for some new plants to spread and make a bolder display next year.

      Delete
  17. Those redbud trees are gorgeous! And you are so lucky to have visits from a Great Horned Owl. I enjoyed your phots very much, especially the gourd-shaped birdhouse, it's just perfect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lyn. I was thrilled to finally get a shot of the Great Horned Owl. He is quite elusive.

      Delete
  18. You are way ahead of us here in SW Washington State in terms of growing season. But, it is supposed to warm up and dry out here, and that will help a lot! I love all the bird pictures, and your flowers are glorious--thank you for sharing the lovely pictures with us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome, Athena, it is my pleasure. We have had unusually warm weather this past winter and early spring.

      Delete
  19. Wow, gorgeous pictures - and I like your lists too. I keep a notebook in the greenhouse - maybe I'll use that next month to sum up what's been doing in the garden! Also you're giving me veggie garden envy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always end up doing more or other things than what is on the list, but it helps to guide me.

      Delete
  20. So many beautiful happenings in your garden already! I love your yoshino cherry - it looks great with the redbud. And great job getting a shot of that owl! I hear them all the time here, but hardly ever actually SEE one, much less get a picture. Owls have such a calming presence for some reason.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got lucky to get that photo of the owl. He is very hard to get close to.

      Delete
  21. Another brilliant garden journal post. It's such a delight reading these and learning about a vastly different environment and garden life. Your photos are always fantastic. I love the detail that's showing on that Tulip, and the spectacular colours of the Redbud and Cheery Trees in bloom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is how I feel when reading your posts. The differences are so interesting.

      Delete
  22. I am most impressed with those Brussels sprouts! I think that is my favorite vegetable, and I have not tried growing them before. They're on the list for this fall! By the way -I know there are mixed feelings about awards, but I am giving your blog The Sunshine Award because I appreciate you. I hope you will take it as a compliment. The post is here: http://dreamingofroses.blogspot.com/2012/04/delivery.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Holley. You are so kind to honor me and my blog. I appreciate it very much. This was the first time I had such good success with the brussel sprouts, and I, too, will grow them again in the fall. They are so delicious fresh from the garden.

      Delete
  23. Thank you for your linking to our GBHD - your brussel sproats look delicious, think I will try them this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome! My vegetable garden is one of my favorite things about gardening, and I love sharing it. Brussel sprouts are delicious fresh from the garden. You will enjoy them.

      Delete
  24. I've only just found this blog, but really like it. Wonderful photos. Well done on capturing the Owl on photo!

    ReplyDelete

'I see trees of green, red roses, too
I see 'em bloom for me and for you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world'
--What a Wonderful World

Thank you for visiting The Sage Butterfly blog. I enjoy reading your charming reflections very much. Have a great day!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"