April 8-14, 2013 Like a sound, spring spreads and spreads until it is swallowed up in space. Like the wind, it moves across the map invisible; we see it only in its effects. It appears like the tracks of the breeze on a field of wheat, like shadows of wind-blown clouds, like tossing branches that reveal the presence of the invisible, the passing of the unseen. -Edwin Way Teale
Lunar phase and lore
The Maple Blossom Moon becomes the Apple Blossom Moon at 4:35 a.m. on April 10. Rising in the morning and setting in the evening, this moon moves overhead in the middle of the day. Lunar conditions are most favorable for fishing and feeding finicky creatures at lunchtime today, especially as the barometer falls in advance of the April 11 and 16 cold fronts. Planting of all flower and vegetable seeds is recommended this week, especially under Taurus (April 10-13).
Weather trends As the month progresses, normal average temperatures rise at the rate of 1 degree every three days. Beginning near 45 in central Ohio on April 1, they reach to the middle 50s four weeks later. Typical highs move from the upper 50s to the upper 60s. Lows advance from 35 to 45. A normal April along the 40th Parallel has two days in the 80s, six days in the 70s, eight days in the 60s, eight days in the 50s, four days in the 40s and two days in the 30s.
Holidays and special occasions April 13-15: New Year’s Day for immigrants from Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.
Daybook
April 8: Spawning time has begun for bullheads, catfish, crappies, pan fish, bass and many other varieties of fish. April 9: When ticks and mosquitoes appear, the morel season is about over and the last frost is no more than four weeks away. And when the clovers bloom, flea season has begun for pets and livestock, and flies take over the barn.
April 10: Today is new moon day, a perfect lunar time to put in as many flowers and vegetables as you can. Throughout most of the country, seeds started in flats now should survive without protection if placed in the garden over the next five weeks.
April 11: After the April 11 high-pressure system crosses the country, several dry days often follow in its wake. All things being equal, this is the period during which you should try to finish all your middle spring planting.
From now on, the chance of snow rapidly decreases until it becomes only 1 in 100 by April 20.
April 12: Throughout the country, the normal average air temperature rises at the rate of about 1 degree every three days once the April 11 front passes through. Highs above 60 degrees occur three times more often between April 12-30 than between April 1-11.
Besides all that, the field and garden day is increasing at an average rate of two minutes per day.
April 13: Mid-April is a fine time to clean out the litter in the chicken coop and make it look like spring is really coming. You might put out some lime on the floor to help with odors.
This is also a good time to spread diatomaceous earth to help keep mites and lice in check. Change the straw in the nesting boxes, too.
April 14: By this time of the year, honeysuckles and spice bushes have developed enough to turn the undergrowth pale green, and color rises throughout the tall tree line.
Pheasants nest and bird migrations peak with the arrival of whip-poor-wills, red-headed woodpeckers, catbirds, cedar waxwings, yellow-throated vireos, meadow larks, indigo buntings, scarlet tanagers, Baltimore orioles, cowbirds, kingbirds and more than a dozen varieties of warblers.
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