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Now the dreary winter’s over,
Fled with him are grief and pain,
When the trees their bloom recover,
Then the soul is born again. Spikenard blossoms shaking,
Perfume all the air,
And in bud and flower breaking,
Stands my garden fair. - Excerpt from the poem
Nachum: Spring Songs by Moses ibn Ezra |
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It's April! The LTPL Seed Library cabinet has received a glow-up! It has already been installed at the new library location and we can't wait for you to see it after we re-open on June 1! Between now and when we close for the move on May 4, the seeds will still be available at the seed library area. Please mark how many packets you take on the clipboard. Make sure you think ahead and pick-up the seeds you will need during the month of May when we will be closed! The good news is that most warm weather seeds that are direct-sown will be happy to wait until we reopen to go in the ground. Those include beans, squash, melons, cucumbers, basil, dill, sunflowers, zinnias, and cosmos. The mission of the seed library is to promote gardening and encourage sustainability through seed saving. The seeds are available at no cost to you. Although it is not required, we hope that you will attempt to save seeds from your crops and return them to the seed library to help keep it self-sustaining. |
Sneak preview of the beautiful seed library cabinet! |
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One Seed, One State
Each year, the MI Seed Library Network selects an open-pollinated, seed-grown plant selection and distributes them to Michigan Seed Libraries so they can share them with their patrons. This year's selection is 'Pacific Beauty' Calendula! Calendula is a lovely flower in shades of yellow, gold, and orange and it grows well in cool weather. Not only is it a beautiful flower, the plant is also a healing herb. Seeds will be available until we close the library in May and after the library reopens in June. Look for the display by the seed library! |
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In April: - Start seeds indoors for tomatoes, cauliflower, lettuce, kale, pac choy, basil, Brussels sprouts, zinnias, cosmos.
- Mid-month, weather permitting, you may begin transplanting hardy vegetable, herb, and flower plants outdoors: Broccoli, cabbage, onions, leeks, calendula, parsley, celery, lettuce, kale, mustard, snapdragons, pansies and violas. Make sure to harden off the plants beginning early April by gradually exposing them to the outdoor weather or putting them in a cold frame.
- As soon as the soil can be worked, direct sow seeds for peas, scallions, larkspur, Bells of Ireland, sweet peas, cilantro, radish, turnips, kohlrabi, spinach, kale, broccoli raab, lettuce, chard, and other hardy greens. Plant potatoes and onion sets.
- Mid-month you may direct-sow root crops: carrots, beets, scallions, and parsnips.
- Plant bare-root perennials, shrubs, and trees.
- Divide or relocate summer and fall-blooming perennials
- Fertilize houseplants as the days grow longer
- Spray fruit trees with dormant oil to kill overwintering pests
- Clean out birdhouses by removing all contents (nesting material, feces, wasp nests, insects) and disinfecting it with a birdhouse cleaner or 10% bleach solution.
- Information and online resources for starting and saving seed can be found on the LTPL Website.
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Find more information on LTPL Grows and other resources! |
Visit and "like" for gardening news, tips and upcoming events. |
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