Temperatures for the period averaged close to normal. There was a range of 45 degrees, from the low of 25 on the 15th and 16th, to the high of 70 degrees on the 13th. Five of the early morning readings were well below freezing.

A rather dry spell ended with 0.05 of an inch of water received on the 14th, 0.02 of an inch on the 17th and 0.41 of an inch on the 18th. Thunder was heard near 4:15 and later, rain followed for less than two hours. A beautiful rainbow developed before 6 p.m.

Rainfall for the month of April reads 1.49 inches. If the weather forecast is correct, the approaching week will be cool and wet.

A few, scattered patches of snow are still visible where it had drifted or piled up by snow removal equipment. A large amount of dirt, sod and pavement materials remain at the edges of the deposited snow areas. My helper and I have spent several hours shoveling, raking and replacing sod. Large areas remain for us to clean up before it smothers the grass.

During the week I had at least three crocus blossoms and another patch of snow drops come into bloom. Some of the daffodils are budded. Winter-kill damage is evident on two of my rose bushes and my bed of holly hocks. Mice girdling is very evident on one peach tree and lawn shrubbery. My neighbors are reporting extensive mice girdling damage on their shrubbery. Many are complaining about mole damage or the prevalence of their burrowings, myself included.

On the 13th, I planted spinach, lettuce, Swiss chard, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and carrots in my small, early garden. On the 15th, I planted about a pound of peas. Hopefully, weather permitting, I will plant about two more pounds real soon.

Two friends have reported the hearing of frogs and peepers; I hope to real soon. Usually, I am quite observing, but I haven’t seen a robin, as of this date, but I have heard them in the distance. Recently, there were 3 Canada geese in my field.

This period of time last year had cooler average temperatures, reinforced by a low reading of 16 degrees on the 17th, a high reading of only 34 on the same date and a 40 degree high reading on the 13th.

Rainfall or snow on three dates deposited 1.24 inches of water in the gauge. Snow deposits measured 0.75 of an inch.

Week of April 12-18

Day High Low Precip.

Sun. 45 30 0

Mon. 63 27 0

Tues. 70 44 005

Wed. 61 25 0

Thurs. 57 25 0

Fri. 63 28 0.02

Sat. 63 28 041