Seasons

April Vistas

Posted by Randy Litchfield on

April Notes

  • Winter aconite, snow drops, and crocuses are done blooming (non-native spring bulbs) and now they are providing weed suppression with their foliage. They will die back and other plants will provide cover.
  • With the heavy and sustained rain during the first part of April, the lower level and swale were flooded for a few days. Once the rain slowed and stopped, the swale drained fairly quickly. We do not see evidence that we lost any plants (yeah natives!). We had slightly worse flooding a couple of years ago due to a clogged culvert drain and there was no plant loss then. See video below.
  • Terri has been spending a lot of time weeding out lesser seeded bittercress and purple dead nettle.
  • Pruning has continued but on shrubs and woodies rather than trees.
  • I have been focusing on hardscape items: repairing raised bed and building a new potting bench (old farmhouse sink and cedar wood).

Growing Degree Days

“Growing Degree Days are a measurement of the growth and development of plants and insects during the growing season. Development does not occur at this time unless the temperature is above a minimum threshold value (base temperature). The base temperature varies for different organisms. It is determined through research and experimentation.” (The Ohio State Phenology Calendar glossary page) We did a post on phenology last year. Check out the OSU Phenology Calendar to see what is happening in your area!

A Few Spring Flower Photos

On April 14, 2025 when the videos were made, the growing degree days here was 201. For context, the 20 year GDD average for Delaware on this date is 171 and in recent years it has been:

  • 2024: 241
  • 2023: 239
  • 2022: 173
  • 2021: 249
Trout Lilly and Jacobs Ladder
Dutchman’s Breeches
Jacobs Ladder with Sweat Bee
Crinkle Root and Twin-leaf
Cut Leaf Toothwort
Marsh Marigold 4

Landscape Videos

On April 8, 2025 when the videos were made, the growing degree days here was 198. For context, the 20 year GDD average for Delaware on this date is 133 and in recent years it has been:

  • 2021: 197
  • 2024: 189
  • 2023: 175
  • 2022: 136

Lower Level and Swale Flooding (4.6.2025)

The following videos were taken two days after the flooding!

Upper Level (4.8.2025)

Swale (4.8.2025)

Southwest Corner (4.13.2025)

Southeast Corner (4.8.2025)

Video and photos by Randy Litchfield unless otherwise noted
© Randy Litchfield, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

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