What's Happening in the Garden
in April
by Donald Ray Burger
Attorney at Law
What's in Bloom
Abelia in bloom (2001, 2003)
Amethyst Flower in bloom (1998)
Basil (2000)
Begonia 'Scarletta' in bloom (2001, 2003)
Begonia 'Dragon Wing' in bloom (2001, 2002)
Begonia 'Super Olympia White' in bloom (2001)
Begonias (Whiskey) in bloom (1998)
Bluebonnets still in bloom (but fading fast by second week of April, 1997. No bluebonnets in 1998. Nice crop in 1999. Really nice crop in 2000. Nice crop in 2001. Small crop in 2002. Excellent crop in 2004. Excellent crop 2005 * Excellent crop in 2009).
Bougainvillea 'Juanita Hatten' in bloom (2000, 2002, 2003)
Brazos blackberry in bloom (1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, * 2009)
Bridal's Wreath in bloom but almost finished by mid April 1997. It has lasted the first two weeks of April in 1998 and 1999. A few blooms all of April, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, * 2009).
Buddelia davidii in bloom (2001, 2002)
Butterfly weed in bloom (1999, 2001, 2004, 2005)
Candy corn plant in bloom (2009)
Cape Honeysuckle in bloom (2001)
Chives in bloom (2004)
Cigar plant in bloom (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, * 2009)
Clasping coneflower in bloom (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, * 2009)
Crown of Thorns in bloom(2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, * 2009)
Dahlberg daisies in bloom (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005).
Dianthus (Bath's Pink) in bloom (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003)
Duranta Repens in bloom (2004)
Dutchman's Pipe in bloom (2004)
Esperanza in bloom (1999, 2, * 2009)
False Indigo in bloom (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005)
Firecracker fern (cream) in bloom. (2004, * 2009)
Firecracker fern (red) in bloom. (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, * 2009)
French Hollyhocks (Althea zabrina) in bloom (2001)
Garlic Chives in bloom (1999, 2000)
Geraniums (scented) in bloom (1998)
Hibiscus plants in bloom (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, * 2009).
Indian Paintbrush in bloom (but fading fast by mid April 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002).
Johnny-jump-ups in bloom (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, * 2009)
Kalanchoes in bloom (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, * 2009)
Katy Ruellia in bloom (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, * 2009)
Lantana in bloom (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005)
Larkspur (Giant Imperial) in bloom (April 13, 1998)
Mexican Bush Sage in bloom (2000, 2001, 2003)
Mexican Heather in bloom (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, * 2009)
Mexican Lime still has some blooms (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Mexican Honeysuckle in bloom (2001)
Meyer lemon in bloom (1999, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Mussaenda in bloom (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, * 2009)
Oleander 'Carnival' in bloom (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005)
Oleander 'Petite Pink' in bloom (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005)
Orange 'Valencia' in bloom (2004)
Orchid in bloom (2009)
Passionflower vine (blue) (2004)
Passionflower vine (purple) (2000)
Passionflower vine (red) (1998, 2000, 2004)
Pentas in bloom (2000, 2001, 2004, * 2009)
A few peppers in bloom (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004)
Plumbago in bloom (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Plumbago 'White' in bloom (2002)
Pomegranate 'Wonderful' in bloom (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 * 2009)
Prickly Pear Cactus in bloom (2009)
Pyracantha in still bloom (1997, 1998)
Rosemary in bloom (1999)
Roses: Almost all old garden roses, hybrid teas, floribunda and miniature roses are in bloom every April in Houston.
Salvia (white) in bloom (1999, 2000)
Salvia 'Lady-in-red' (2000, * 2009)
Sedum in bloom (2000, 2002)
Society garlic in bloom (1997, 1998, 1999, 2002).
Star Jasamine in bloom (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, * 2009)
Sweet Alyssum in bloom (2004, * 2009)
Sweet Olive in bloom (2005, * 2009)
Thunbergia grandifloria in bloom (1998, 2000, 2004, * 2009)
Tomatoes in bloom (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, * 2009)
Turk's cap in bloom (1998, 1999, 2000, 2005)
Verbena in bloom (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005)
Virginia Sweetspire in bloom (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005)
Yarrow in bloom (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow in bloom (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, * 2009)
Yaupon Hollies still in bloom.
Yucca in bloom (1998, 2003)
What to Do in April
All: Southern peas, peppers, basil, eggplant, mint plants, oregano plants, rosemary plants, sage plants, sunflowers. First Week: Fertilize the grass if you haven't already done so. In 1998 I used Gardenville's Soil Food, an organic fertilizer.
First Half: eggplant, okra, lettuce (borderline), vining Malabar spinach (Basella alba and Basella rubra).
Second Half: Plant caladium bulbs (and don't forget the bloodmeal), okra.
MISC
April, 1998: The possum haw got web worms. It did in 1999 also.
April, 1999: Mexican plum got web worms.
April, 1998: This has been a good year for fruit. We have peaches, Meyer lemons, Satsumas, oranges, blackberries, Mexican plums and one apple blossum!
April 7, 1996: Hummers appeared.
April 9, 1998: Monarch butterfly caterpillars are on the butterfly weed in force. Don't worry, they wont kill the butterfly weed, even if they eat all the leaves. And don't kill the caterpillars if you want Monarch butterflies.
April 3, 1998: saw first hummer of spring season.
April 13, 1998: I have tomatoes! They appeared as if overnight. They are a little smaller than a golf ball.
April 17, 1998: Ate first blackberry of the season.
April 17, 1999: First blackberry of the season.
April 13, 1999: First tomatoes of the season are ready.
April 17, 2000: First tomato of the season is red.
King's Orchard, a pick your own fruit and berry farm, should be open for the picking. Visit their website or call them at 409 894 2766 to see what's ripe for the picking.