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These April reflections are part of a monthly practice of noticing what each season asks of us.
In this article, I share why April’s unpredictability may make its demands, but also how we can learn from nature to embrace this unsteadiness and live with April’s energy instead of against it. Living seasonally in April is the key to the flexibility this month is demanding from us.
April is not known for its temperance. One day, it’s raining, and a harsh wind is blowing, the next the sun is shining, and it gets so warm that you haul out your shorts and t-shirt. Only to get back to your down jacket because it’s snowing the next day. Yet, even though it may still be cold, there’s a discernible shift in the air. The light is changing visibly, and all of a sudden, nature is getting busy.
The transition from winter to spring is not always as smooth as it is in March. Instead, the seasonal rhythm shifts into the next gear. April, therefore, is more like a bridge between the soft, slow awakening of early spring and the full vibrancy of late spring and early summer.
Here in Bavaria, March has been rather warm and dry. Early bloomers like cherry trees, hawthorn, daffodils and hyacinths have sprung into bloom, painting a lovely picture of vibrant colours on the background canvas of still-dull greens and browns. Last week, however, started in April-like fashion with temperature changes of more than 20 °C / 36 °F (- 3 °C / 27 °F during the night and 18 °C / 65 °F during the day), giving us a hint of what April will have in store.
I use all those blooms as an example of resilience and flexibility, though. They defy the weather and bloom nevertheless, delighting us (and the busy insects) with their colour and overwhelming scents.
The energy of spring and summer is already there; let’s take our cue from the blossoms and meet it with the same resilience.
As nature accelerates, our own activity naturally follows.
The Garden in Full Motion
While in March the garden was slowly stirring back to life, it’s now buzzing with energy. When I’m in the garden, I love watching the bees humming busily while looking for early blooms they can pinch nectar from. The birds are on the lookout for twigs, straws and other nesting material, picking worms in the meantime for sustenance. Even the odd squirrel is hopping nervously from patch to patch, trying to remember where it buried its nuts last autumn.
I can feel this energy jumping over to me, and I’m glad about it, because there’s a lot to do in the garden in April. Patches must be prepared, the first seeds can be brought into the soil now, and seedlings must be attended to and hardened off before planting them outdoors. For a comprehensive guide on garden tasks in April, look here, and here’s a complete list of vegetables to sow and plant in April.
When the soil has warmed, we can already sow some cold-hardy vegetables like spinach and radishes and plant the first lettuce.
Also, you may want to plant some blooms in your garden to attract more of those busy pollinators.
Natural as it may be to head out into the garden, though, we’ll also want to prepare our house for spring.
Preparing the Home for Spring
If you haven’t done so already, now is kind of the last opportunity for a spring cleaning. Daunting as it may sound, it’s actually quite satisfying to organise, throw out and deep clean your house. Top it with some fresh flowers and Easter decorations, and spring can come.
Speaking of Easter: the return of the light, blooms and life didn’t go unnoticed with our elders. What we now celebrate as Easter has had a long tradition before that. It’s the celebration of the earth’s awakening after winter and its newfound vigour, vitality and fertility. A new year lay ahead (remember that in ancient times the new year was celebrated at the spring equinox), and with it the promise of new life and the possibility to grow everything that’s needed for survival.
Today, few of us rely on Mother Nature for survival, at least not directly. But whether you live self-sufficient or not, the joy at the start of a new growing season and the reverence for all that grows again is a wonderful reason to celebrate.
Self-Care in April
It’s easy to become infected with the new energy of spring, but it’s equally easy to fall into the “busy trap” that leads to overwhelm and fatigue. I mean, I get it, been there numerous times. We not only want to do everything at once, now that the sun’s out and it’s warm again. We also have the feeling of being behind and too slow.
None of it is true, however. There’s enough time to do our garden work and cleaning. Consistency, as always, is key here, and it’s more advisable to take small, manageable steps instead of overloading our to-do lists.
Self-care is an important factor in April. Short, mindful breaks help us to preserve our newfound energy and recharge our batteries.
Self-care for body….
How better to serve our bodies in April than with fresh food? The first radishes are ready, as is spinach and by the end of the month, we can even harvest asparagus – or buy it at a farmers’ market. Early herbs like chive and chervil can be found now and used to spruce up a freshly cooked dish.
I don’t know about you, but in spring I start craving fresh salads again, for example, this spring salad with poached eggs. As a dessert, I love rhubarb cake now or something with fresh, tangy lemons.
To burn it all off, a walk or a bike ride is perfect. Walking in spring sunshine is a wonderful opportunity to watch the wildlife and flowers. But don’t let the weather keep you from your outdoor exercise. Just grab a thicker coat and your umbrella and take a quick stroll. And when was the last time you put on your wellies and hopped into puddles? You’re never too old for that.
… For Mind…
After a short stroll in the rain, I can’t wait to snuggle back in on my couch with either a good book or some good music. Right now it’s Bachs passions for me as they’re performed a lot before Easter. And honestly, every time I listen to this divine music, I gather something new. Magnificent.
If classical music is not your thing, curate a spring playlist with your favourite songs. Music is an important means of well-being.
On sunny or at least dry days, I like drinking my morning coffee on the balcony. Sometimes, I get out there after lunch, grab a good book and read for a quarter of an hour in the fresh air. After months of looking out at the garden through the window, it’s so lovely to be out again!
… and Soul
The energy of the new season can give you the boost to try out something new. If you have pondered starting water colouring, embroidery or soap making but didn’t have the energy to get into gear, now is the perfect time.
I also love visiting the flower fields in our botanical garden here in Augsburg in April. There are lots of spring flowers and trees in full bloom now. It’s not only a sight for sore eyes but also a challenge for the nose, as many of these blooms endow us with overwhelming scents which go straight into our limbic system and rewire us for spring. Crazy, isn’t it?!
Another of my favourite leisure activities in April is going on a photography trip. That sounds fancier than it is, though. It means just grabbing my camera or phone and taking photos in nature. This not only rewards me with nice photos but also sharpens my eye for the small daily changes outdoors that I would otherwise overlook.
Easter is the perfect opportunity to invite friends and family for a brunch and maybe even an Easter egg hunt afterwards. When everybody brings something to eat, you won’t have to do all the work and can enjoy this spring gathering.
What April’s Unpredictability Can Teach Us
April is unsteady, no denying it. Some days are warm, sunny and just wonderful, while others are cold and harsh.
Seasonal living does not mean fighting against these quick changes. Instead, April invites us to adjust, to stay flexible, and to respond to what each day brings.
You planned to do some garden work today, but now it’s raining? Clean up your house instead, listen to your spring playlist and maybe decorate Easter eggs.
The laundry is piling up, waiting to be ironed, but the sun has come out again? Head outside and get your hands in the dirt. I promise, no one will touch your laundry in the meantime 😉.
Uncertainty is what makes April special – and teaches us trust. Trust in change, in becoming, and in the quiet unfolding already underway.
Until next month — stay in rhythm with the season.
If this reflection sparked ideas for your garden or home, you might enjoy these sections: Find all my gardening posts in the garden section. For seasonal recipes — many of them authentically Bavarian — head to the recipe section. And if you’re curious about homemade body care or preserving your harvest, those have their own home here, too.
Missed the previous month? You can read my March reflections here.