April 2008 Almanac
This Month: April Shouts Spring
In the bottom third of Maine, April shouts spring more loudly with each passing day.
Often, by April 20, folks can plant peas, and an early sowing insures this legume will be ready for the traditional July 4th feast of fresh salmon, garden peas and boiled potatoes. When two main ingredients come from your own garden and the third from a nearby lake, the results can satisfy the soul.
Ice-out in the south country often occurs before mid-month, and then, look out! Fishing can be fast and furious as soon as lakes and ponds turn over, and then by late April, when black flies swarm and alder leaves reach the size of a mouse’s ear, brooks provide dynamite brookie angling.
In the bottom third of Maine, April arrives with snow and ice, but by the 30th, spring’s viridescent explosion has begun in good shape. However, photographers know a dirty little secret about April green. It may look lush to the eyes, but photos coming back from the developer in mid to late May show a tinge of green but mostly browns, grays, blacks and whites — disappointing to the photographer.