Is it really Spring?! Well...yes it is!

Seven Sure Signs of Spring!

April 2023 offered a unique blend of weather conditions that kept Wisconsin gardeners guessing which tasks were appropriate to tackle on any given day.  

Hot and humid days (in the 80’s) are unusual in Southeastern Wisconsin during April… but we had a few.   These warm days were interspersed with cold, windy days as well as a few hail storms and some snow.   

The variety of weather conditions in April has an effect on gardeners for sure, but also on the plants themselves.  If plants achieve a sufficient number of growing degree days in springtime, they will begin to push either floral buds or foliage buds.  Since we might experience frost or a late freeze (the one I recall was June 3 several years ago), some of those vulnerable buds are exposed and can be frozen.   

Frost won’t kill the entire bush or tree, but can destroy ALL the blooms for this growing season. 

Has springtime actually arrived? I’m going to align with optimists here… yes, spring is here.  I can offer “proof” … seven sure signs of spring:

Daffodils have been blooming throughout April (despite assorted weather events.) One of our great grandsons (age 18 months) likes to play in our garden and discovered that daffodils look pretty cool!

Lilies of the valley and peonies have emerged and should form flower buds soon. 

Siberian bugloss (the first perennial to flower in my home garden each spring) has been displaying blue blooms since mid-April.

By late April the variety of tulips I planted bloomed … pastel and pretty!

Hundreds/thousands of migratory birds have returned to their spring-summer home here in Wisconsin.  Just a few of my sightings during April: one bald eagle,  blue heron, cardinals, robins, sandhill cranes—also butterflies and dragon flies!

Let’s not forget those springtime veggies and herbs:  parsley, chives, garlic chives and topsetting green onions all were available during April for our culinary creativity!  It is such a pleasure to have an abundant supply of fresh herbs (besides those I grow indoors in winter).

As April blends into May, I send my wishes to you for an inspiring gardening experience this season!  Large or small garden spaces— they all contribute to making our world a little more beautiful… and we NEED a beautiful world!

M. Lynn Schmid, Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture