Southern Gardening Potpourri for April

On April 5th we celebrate Easter Sunday which culminated in the resurrection of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago. It is proclaimed as one of the most holy days in the Christian religion. But where did the tradition of the Easter Bunny with colorful eggs come from? In Germany there is some 16th century text about the "Oschter Haws" or Easter Hare, who lay eggs for good boys and girls. This German tradition came over to America with immigration. So if you would like to go down a rabbit hole, then doing a study on the Easter Bunny is sure to please.

The tasks before us in April can be summed up in 3 categories: 1. Dividing 2. Planting 3. Weeding.

Dividing includes separating overgrown roots of perennials, replanting them or sharing with neighbors and friends. This increases the vitality of the plants, which enhances blooms.

Planting not only covers new plants, but also the sowing of seed directly into the garden. By April we should be past any hard freezes and well on our way to sunnier days.

Weeding which some dread, but realize the necessity. Weeds choke out the desirable plants' roots, which deprives them from proper uptake of nutrients necessary for full potential. The good thing about spring weeds is that they have wide tops, but tiny root systems which make them easy to yank out.

I would say that the single most misunderstood garden task is that of proper watering. First of all, one must be informed of the amount of water a particular plant needs. Some are listed as drought resistant, and others which need moist soil. The rule of thumb is really quite simple. Use your index finger and push it into the soil to the top of the main middle knuckle. If the soil is moist, you do not need to water. Many times the top layer of the soil dries out, but the plant does not need water. Also, if the plant is in a pot, fill the pot up to the rim for proper watering. When planting in pots, always keep the soil 2-3 inches below the top lip of the pot.

PLANT OF THE MONTH-- ATAMASCO LILY(Zephyranthes atamasca)

These are also known as rain lilies, are native to North America, and are in the Amaryllis family. These perennial bulbs bloom in the spring, usually around Easter. They like wet feet and one finds them in ditches on the side of the road, and in moist open meadows. When dormant, they can withstand drought conditions. But be careful, all parts of this lily is poisonous-- the leaves, the seeds and bulbs are poisonous to humans.

HAPPY EASTER AND GOOD GARDENING.

Zephyranthes atamasca, commonly known as the atamasco lily, occasionally as the Easter lily or more generally a rain-lily, is native to the Southern United States. It grows in swampy forests and coastal prairies, preferring acid boggy soils rich with leaf mold. Following the appearance of broad, grassy leaves in early winter, it blooms in March or April. It has several narrow, linear basal leaves about 0.5 in wide and 10–15 in long. Its native range extends from Florida north to Maryland and west to Mississippi. The species is also naturalized in Bermuda and in the Mariana Islands. Both its leaves and bulbs are poisonous.