April 2012

"Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection,
not in books alone, but in every leaf in Spring-time.
Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Mid-Atlantic weather watch: Mid-Atlantic Weather Watch: Fair and cool (1,2,3) with cloudy and mild weather (4,5,6). Showers with severe storms in the northern part of the region (7,8). Fair and mild (9,10) with more storms in the north and cooler temperatures (11,12,13). Fair and warmer (14,15,16,17) with more showers and severe storms (18,19,20). Fair and cooler (21,22,23) with more showers in the north, cloudy in the South (24,25,26,27). Yet more showers and storms (28,29,30).

Tornado Watch: The Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack advises you to watch out for tornado activity in the Mid-Atlantic Region from April 6th to April 9th.

Full Moon: April’s Full Moon will rise on Friday, April 6th at 2:19 PM EST. Many Native Americans referred to it as Pink Moon because of the many flowers and trees that turn pink and bloom during the month of April. It is also has been known as Fish Moon because fishing begins to pick up in most regions where the weather starts to warm.

Special Notes: Earth Day is observed on Sunday, April 22nd. Make a special effort to go easy on Mother Earth that day (and throughout the entire year!). To find activities in your area, call the Earth Day Network at (202) 518-0044 or go to www.earthday.net.

The Garden: Spring is just about here and now is the time to begin your annual cleanup. Remove dead foliage from garden beds, old mulch from around shrubs, and rake debris from the lawn. Treat the lawn with pre-emergent crabgrass killer right after forsythia bloom and you will prevent problems later in the season. Spread ample amounts of fresh compost or mulch where needed. Begin planting indoor seedlings outdoors making sure to harden them off first with several short days outside or in an unheated garage. Spray fruit trees with dormant oil when temperatures exceed 40 degrees F. and before they start to leaf out. Test your underground sprinkling system by monitoring a full cycle to make sure it is still operating correctly. Inspect all sprinkler heads for cleaning, adjustment, or replacement. Set out annuals, perennials, and other bedding plants in late April and remember to apply a balanced fertilizer.

J. Grubers' Thought for Today's Living:

"A day when nothing is accomplished can never be recaptured and is lost forever"

Index of Past Month's Entries