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Citizen Science
I received an urgent e mail message from my wife yesterday: evidently she heard and saw her first robin this spring. The news was welcome as the thaw is excruciatingly slow this year, at least where we live in our zone 5 garden, an hour north of Toronto.
Thank goodness for the sight and sounds of birds this year. They know that spring is here, it is just hiding.
There is barely a hobby gardener in this country who does not consider themselves a birder also.
Which is to say that the North American Bird Conservation Initiative or NABCI has released the first ever publication entitled 'The State of Canada's Birds' and it makes for fascinating reading. This 34 page document is lushly illustrated with bird pictures and is organised in such a way that you will get the gist of it while reading it over your lunch hour.
The State of Canada's Birds is based on the accumulation of bird survey results from over 40 years. We need this information to understand the rise and fall of bird populations for its own sake and to measure the effects of climate change and human activity on birds in North America.
Armed with this knowledge we can make changes to our behaviour that affects the outcome of native bird health and population growth. Indeed, we have already made huge strides in our efforts to 'bring back from the brink' of extinction such birds as the Bald Eagle, the Whooping Crane and many raptors [i.e., hawks, falcons, eagles, osprey and vultures].
Here are some highlights from the study:
- One of the greatest declines in bird population is among 'insectivores': insect eating fliers like swallows and fly catchers [for me, a surprise as we have hundreds of swallows nesting on our farm]
- Since 1970 Canada's bird population has declined by 10%
- Waterfowl, chickadees, woodpeckers and raptors have increased in population
- Reductions in environmental pollution across the country are reflected in increases in bird population [so we can make a difference!]
- Some duck populations have increased by more than 50% [Canada geese populations by more than that: surprise!]
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Things To Do in Your Garden for April
Outdoors
- Cheat. Add to the flower show that you created last fall when you planted your spring flowering bulbs and plant some more. The pre-planted pots of bulbs that you see sold everywhere provide a great opportunity to get a jump on spring. They bloom earlier than the ones beneath the ground and will continue to bloom for a long period due to cool evening temperatures. Granted, this tactic only works when temperatures do not drop below -8oC and they are not trashed by the weight of a late spring snow. To me, it is worth the risk.
- Speaking of outdoor, early spring colour. It is now time to plant frost hardy flowers like pansies, violas, primula, violets, ranunculus and the aforementioned flowering bulbs. If you live on the prairies your time for planting these beauties will come mid April, weather dependant.
Lawn. April is LAWN month:
- Rake the winter debris off your lawn after the snow melts and when you can walk on your lawn without leaving a permanent impression of your foot.
- Fertilize with Golfgreen. The high nitrogen, slow release formula is the best in the business. This year they added a special form of iron that makes your lawn 22% greener and will not stain your patio or driveway. Look for the exclusive formula of Golfgreen at Home Hardware. It is the one with my ugly mug on the bag. This is, truly, the only fertilizer that I use on my lawn.
- Overseed bare or thin patches of turf with a 2 cm layer of triple mix or Mark's Choice Lawn soil. Spread Golfgreen lawn seed over the area evenly, rake smooth with a fan rake and step on it to bring it into firm contact with the soil. Water thoroughly and frequently until established.
- Aerate your lawn with a power aerator if you have clay soil or heavy foot traffic.
Plant. Some of you will be waiting for the May 24 planting weekend. Well, that is fine if you are only planting frost sensitive material, like petunias and tomatoes. But if you want to plant roses, shrubs, trees, evergreens and the like, there is no better month to do it than April. For one, the cool temperatures lend themselves to a better transplant success rate and secondly, the selection of plants is better than at any other time of year.
- Sow veggie seeds. As my friend, the late Lois Hole of St Albert Alberta, used to say to me, "Mark, for goodness sake tell people to sow their carrots in April." She was so emphatic about this that you would think it was a religion. I guess to her it was, sort of. In addition to carrots, sow your peas, snow peas, onion sets, and multipliers. If you didn't plant your garlic last fall, do it as early this spring as you can.
- Soil prep. Itching to get going but still too cold to plant? Get your containers ready for May planting by emptying them of last years' soil [put it in the garden] are refill with fresh container mix. I use Mark's Choice Container mix, Home Hardware. Well, yea! Prep your garden with fresh soil/compost and mulch so that you have less to do come May.
And finally - come and see me Sunday April 7th in Waterloo, Ontario for Divas By Design. I am the keynote/lunch speaker for this very special event. Mine is just one part of a day long series of special presentations. Go to www.hopespring.ca for details. We are raising money for the Hope Spring Cancer Support Centre. I am pleased to volunteer my services.
I am busy at a variety of home shows around the country this month: check them out below. Note the special 'gardening clinic' in Vermillion Alberta on Friday, April 26th. It is going to be a fun and informative day. Only 25 people may register so get your name in there soon! Visit www.thegoodlifeinstitute.ca
Have a great gardening month - breathe deep and get energy from the warming earth. Feels good, no?
Keep your knees dirty,
Mark
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Story of how Mark Cullen's newsletter does a great job promoting S.H.A.R.E.
One day in December I received a phone call from Lorraine Roberts that owns Plant Paradise Country Gardens in Caledon, along with her husband Robert. Lorraine told me that she read about S.H.A.R.E. in Mark's November newsletter and was impressed. She looked S.H.A.R.E. up on the internet and thought that their company would be interested in supporting what we do. We had a great telephone conversation and I told her more about S.H.A.R.E. She reviewed her plan on how they were going to support us and they wanted some S.H.A.R.E.'s brochure.
Starting on Saturday, April 13th and running till June 2nd 2013, Lorraine will hold a workshop on garden topics at 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The cost will be $10.00 per person for each workshop and all the proceeds will go to S.H.A.R.E. To review the list of workshops and to register go to www.plantparadise.ca.
Then on Saturday July 6th and Sunday July 7th, 2013 ,they will be hosting their 6th Annual Delphinium Festival at their Plant Paradise Country Gardens, 16258 Humber Station Road, Caledon. Everyone is welcome to celebrate summer with friends and gardening enthusiasts at PPCG. Experience the refreshing peace and beauty of their botanical garden and organic perennial nurseries The festival includes gardening workshops / seminars at a cost of $25.00 per person with the proceeds going to S.H.A.R.E. Throughout the days there will be free guided tours of the garden, concerts, raffle, food and refreshment and much more.
Lorraine is allowing S.H.A.R.E. Agriculture Foundation to have a booth at this festival to inform others about our great projects on how we help people in the developing countries to help themselves to become self- sustained. Check us out www.shareagfoundation.org.
Thank you Lorraine and Robert Roberts for all your support. People like you do make a difference in this world to help eliminate poverty. Everyone that helps the everyday operation of S.H.A.R.E are volunteers so all proceeds will go directly to our projects.
A hardy thank you to Mark Cullen for all the promotion that he gives S.H.A.R.E. Agriculture Foundation in his newsletters, his column in the Star and his radio broadcasts. Lorraine found out about S.H.A.R.E. and so will others.
Submitted by Joseph W. Gray / Treasurer
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- Start your dahlias and canna lilies in one gallon [4 liter] sized pots. Use a quality soil like Mark's Choice Container mix.
Last month I invited you to participate in a short survey. I appreciate the great responses we received: over 1000 in all! I have randomly chosen 4 winners from the survey participants.
April 6 - 
I learned from the recent survey results that you would like to learn more about specific plants. Starting this month I will include a 'Featured Plant of the Month' in each newsletter.
Do you have a 'gardening' event you would like to promote? I would be happy to include your event listing in my monthly E-newsletter. Deadline for submitting event info is the 15 th of the month prior to newsletter publication. 
Date: April 8
Date: Thursday, April 18 
Date: April 18
Date: Saturday, April 20
Date: April 21
