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?

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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