Ahh, April
By Marne Norquist
Spring-like sunshine arrives at last / As April days now warm the earth / Cruel winter is but a memory past / Once again the world gives birth
David Squire
Spring has arrived! The apple trees are bursting with color, the cherry trees are showing off their soft pink bloom, the tulips are standing tall, proud and bright and the Redbuds are bestowing their bright magenta blooms. April is the ideal time to plant trees and shrubs. Or, to plan what perennials need to be purchased and filled-in. This is peak springtime, when you can enjoy the cool days, the cool evenings and the soft light. This is when the rains come (hopefully!) and the newly installed plants have the advantage of the natural moisture, the rainwater that provides the nutrient-rich food without the salts of our tap water. Sprinkler systems are turning on, providing supplemental water to the freshly planted gardens. Lawns are being aerated. The stage is being set for the season.
Crisp April days are ideal to begin deciding what edibles you are going to sow, grow and harvest. Where will they go? Will you create a potager garden on its own or mix your edibles with your ornamentals? Are you going to install raised beds? They make sowing, maintaining and harvesting much easier. The drainage is better, the soil remains warmer and they can add aesthetic appeal to any landscape. Don’t forget to add a lot of organic compost, as it plays an integral role in a triumphant harvest. You can even sow lettuce now and produce two or three harvests from it. Swiss chard planted now will produce greens for salads and cooking from July through November.
You can also hear the birds. Woodpeckers are traveling through, the chickadees are singing. Robins are bobbing their heads and protecting their baby blue eggs. My kids and I play a version of “Where’s Waldo?” but instead of Waldo, we try to find the chirping birds. It’s always a great reward to actually find the feathered, camouflaged friends!
We are no longer yearning to garden, but rather, we are actually gardening. Our rainboots are muddy, our gardening gloves wet and our nails have some dirt under them (all good & happy things). We can cut back our perennials and woody shrubs like Spireas and Lavender, coaxing their summer blooms. Be careful not to cut back your spring-blooming shrubs (lilacs, viburnums, forsythia). Wait until after they have displayed their beauty before getting the pruners out.
While all the gardens are waking up, bloom by bloom, I like to take note. I like to see the fallen petals outlining the parked car on the street. I like to walk through the tunnel of a white bloom arch on Dexter Street. The power and presence of the trees and gardens coming to life is an event to behold. We can experience it in a way that leaves us wanting less and filling us up with the simple, natural beauty that Park Hill has to offer.
Marne Norquist is a professional horticulturist with 12 years experience designing and installing gardens. A native of Park Hill, she now cultivates a plot on Dexter Street, where gardens – edible and ornamental – and two kids grow. She can be reached at marnenorquist@gmail.com.