Celebrate Spring!


Ahhh . . . spring.  The time of renewal, of muddy, moist thaws and tender buds.  As the earth and its inhabitants begin awakening, so do we.  The daylight hours lengthen, the soil begins to warm, and it gives us all a new outlook on all things.  So, as the rains come down and the sprouts shoot up, we begin our rituals of slipping out at first light with our cup of tea or coffee, strolling to find what's new in our world today . . . I think it's called spring fever . . . :)



Notable dates this spring
March 6 - Full Moon
March 17 - St. Patrick's Day
March 20 - Vernal Equinox (1st day of Spring!)
April 1 - April Fool's Day
April 4 - Daylight Savings Time Begins (US)
April 5 - Full Moon
April 9 - Good Friday
April 11 - Easter
April 22 - Earth Day
May 1 - May Day
May 4 - Full Moon
May 9 - Mother's Day
May 31 - Memorial Day Observed

About the  Vernal Equinox

Spring nature in Louisiana
March 6 - Mottled Ducks begin nesting
March 10 - Clean & hang hummingbird feeders
March 11 - Eastern Bluebirds begin building nests
March 13 - Peak Wood Duck nesting
March 22 - Northern Parula Warblers return from Central America
March 25 - Hummingbirds are returning
April 9 - Dewberries ripen this month
April 10 - Rare Swallow-tailed Kites return to Pearl River Basin to nest
April 16 - Pick mayhaw for jams & jellies
April 17 - Rare lady slipper orchids bloom in central & north Louisiana
April 24 - Alligator snapping turtles begin laying eggs
April 25 - Male alligators bellow in the marshes
April 30 - Wild Turkey hens are on the nest
May 2 - Wild blueberries ripening in piney woods
May 5 - Brown Pelican nesting in full swing
May 6 - The orchid, spreading pogonia, blooms until July in areas of SE La.
May 13 - Common water snakes become nocturnal for rest of summer
May 16 - Dewberries ready for picking
May 21 - Alligators breed
May 22 - Time to pick red mulberries
May 26 - Young Red-cockaded Woodpeckers leave cavity nests
        * From the Louisiana Conservationist - 2006 Calendar

In our yards and gardens . . .
As spring bulbs begin emerging, sprinkle a balanced fertilizer around them. Remove the spent flower-heads, but don't cut back the foilage; let it wilt down naturally as it feeds the bulbs for next year.

It's a good idea to remove old mulches and replace with a fresh layer, especially if you've had problems with fungus diseases. Give the soil a couple of weeks exposure to fresh air and sunlight before covering with your fresh mulch.

Whether planning your garden or starting a new one, consider adding plants to attract pollinators. Besides the pleasure you'll receive from watching your garden come to life, your flowers and plants will benefit tremendously. See my section on The Birds and the Bees for some good plant choices.

Clean and hang hummingbird feeders early . . . here in the south, hummingbirds start appearing near the end of March.

Welcome the bluebirds for spring nesting by cleaning out bluebird boxes early, or put up some new ones.

Early-spring bloomers, such as forsythia, spirea and quince can be pruned after blossoms are spent.

A handy way to space those seeds or seedlings -- grab a flower pot the size of the space recommended on the seed packet ( 2-inches, 4-inches, etc ...), turn it upside-down, and 'stamp' circles in the soil, making the edges of the circles just touch. Plant your seeds where the circles meet.

When shopping for annuals for your spring beds, choose plants with the fewest full blooms . . . buds are great, but the more blooms there are, the more danger of the plant being rootbound.  It will take longer to get a good start once set out.

Early spring is the best time of year for transplanting root-bound houseplants. Select a pot 2 - 4 inches larger than the old one, and use a good quality potting mix.  Prune and shape up leggy plants, and begin fertilizing again now.


GH Sign of Spring

Weather & Gardening Folklore
  • Plant corn when oak leaves are the size of a squirrel's ear
  • Flowers smell best just before the rain
  • Rain on Easter will bring rain for seven Sundays
  • Cobwebs on the grass are a sign of fair weather
  • March winds bring April showers
  • April showers bring May flowers


My Garden In Spring by E.A. Bowles

Sit back and enjoy springtime with the perfect book.... rich in content and design, perfect for anyone who delights in the springtime.
Click on the cover to see more about this beautiful book.


Interesting Spring Links

  • Turn Your Tables on to Spring
    Gorgeous ideas for spring floral arrangements from About.com
  • Plants by Mail FAQ
    We all worry when we order from those gorgeous photos in a plant catalog . . . here is a great site with all you need to know about mail-order plants
  • The Legend of the Shamrock
    The story of the shamrock, and the wearin 'o the green
  • 4 Leaf Clover Facts
    One leaf is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love, and the fourth for luck! And lots more ...
  • Easter Crafts
    Pam's place - lots of simple, mostly paper, crafts to make for Easter
  • The BIG Easter Egg Hunt
    This one is on the web, and . . . it's BIG
  • Mother's Day
    Quotes, poems and humor about this special day from About.com
  • US Frost Dates
    Find out when the last frost is expected where you are; also, the first frost this fall
  • Spring Cleaning
    * Groan * . . . it's a good time to do it, and this tells you how to clean anything, from AllAboutHome.com

Celebrating Earth Day April 22

The  Earth Day Website
The purpose of Earth Day from The Wilderness Society
Earth Day Celebrations for kids
Begin your own  Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Easy tips for Helping our Environment

  Adopt a Rainforest Animal
Adopt a Rainforest Animal




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' But each spring a gardening instinct, sure as the sap rising in the trees,
stirs within us. We look about and decide to tame another little bit of ground.'
~ Lewis Gantt

'....the world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.'
~ E. E. Cummings

( Yessssss!! )


ah, spring!

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