APRIL MESSAGE

Greetings Garden Friends,

April is National Garden Month where Earth Day, Arbor Day and National Gardening Day offer annual planned events. But, this year a rare total solar eclipse is coming that is definitely not an April fool occurrence. On Monday, April 8th, The Great American Eclipse will begin in the USA in Texas at 1:27 pm CDT and end in Maine at 3:35pm EDT. Millions of observers may witness a four minute breath-taking sight as the moon suddenly plunges the earth into darkness, exposing the sun's corona. A complete totality can only be seen within the 115 mile wide path of the moon. In Northwest PA it will move through Erie, Crawford, Warren, and Mercer counties around 3:15pm.  Pittsburgh will only encounter a partial eclipse. A little darkness will occur as the Moon gradually covers and continues past the sun. Looking directly at the sun should be avoided and protective eyewear is still needed for viewing.

Our May 18th plant sale will be here before we know it. Preparations have been going on and a digg-ums workshop is planned for, eclipse day, Monday, April 8th, 10 am, at M.D. Barnes Inc. Please look over your gardens for perennial plants to bring for division and potting while we share some dirt. Our April Program, "Are You Pondering a Pond," will offer inspiration to those interested in adding a landscape water feature by Brian Golgon, owner of Pondering LLC. Then a  Jesteadt's Greenhouse field trip on April 24th can prove to be quite alluring for plant bargain shoppers. I look forward to seeing you in April.

"Trowels and Errors make us Grow,

Julie, Your President