Hello April, aren’t you lovely?
Here are three events to watch for, two quotes for the season, and one grounding activity to get you slowing down in the month ahead.1
Three Events to Celebrate this Month
1. The Solar Eclipse occurs on April 8.
On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, with its path of totality passing over Mexico, United States, and a small part of Canada. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun in the process. During the eclipse the sky will darken, and for those in the path of totality, it will feel like you are plunged into twilight for the ~2 or so minutes before a sliver of the sun appears again.
This year’s path of totality crosses North America in a northeasterly direction, beginning in Mexico and Texas, extending through southeastern Missouri, parts of Indiana and Ohio, then through New England, followed by Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
No matter where you are in the the United States, you’ll get to experience this phenomenon to some extent. To figure out when - and to what extent - plug in your zip code in this handy interactive map from NASA.
Fun fact: for a few lucky residents in southeastern Missouri, this will be their second time go around with a total eclipse. They were also in the path of totality during the August 2017 eclipse event.
2. Spring Flower Festivals aplenty.
Right now in Washington, DC, the National Cherry Blossom festival is in full swing. This is only one of many different kinds of spring flower festivals happening around the world beginning in March and extending into May (depending on the type of flower, the climate, and the season).
Fans of cherry blossom trees (sakura in Japanese) can find celebrations right now (or very soon) across Japan, throughout Europe (the blossoms in Paris and Copenhagen are especially well known), and in NYC, Newark, Philadelphia, and many other cities throughout the country (save for those where they’ve already reached peak bloom).
Tulip festivals are also in full swing in places like Skagit Valley, Washington and Willamette Valley, Oregon, with more tulip festivals to come later this month and in May in other parts of the United States, Canada, India, Japan, and of course Amsterdam.
3. Bear hibernation season ends.
Typically, depending on the year’s snow pack and winter temperatures, bears tend to end their winter hibernation cycle sometime in late March or April as the winter snows melt off. For Grizzlies in places like Yellowstone National Park, it’s the males you’ll see first, followed later by females with cubs.
Bears are what are known as “super hibernators.” Their body temperatures do not drop as dramatically as, say ground squirrels, but their heart rates slow dramatically to about 8 beats per minute, and never once do they urinate or defecate. Want to learn more about bear hibernation? Check out this fact filled video from CBC news:
Two Quotes for April
1.
The fleeting nature of cherry blossom season offers much to think about. Consider these thoughts from The Book of Tea by Buddhist writer Okakura Kakuzo.
“Some flowers glory in death--certainly the Japanese cherry blossoms do, as they freely surrender themselves to the winds. Anyone who has stood before the fragrant avalanche at Yoshino or Arashiyama must have realized this. For a moment they hover like bejewelled clouds and dance above the crystal streams; then, as they sail away on the laughing waters, they seem to say: ‘Farewell, O Spring! We are on to eternity.’”
2.
Is April the cruelest month? Author Barbara Kingsolver has a theory, from her book, Animal, Vegetable, Mineral.
“April is the cruelest month, T.S. Eliot wrote, by which I think he meant (among other things) that springtime makes people crazy. We expect too much, the world burgeons with promises it can't keep, all passion is really a setup, and we're doomed to get our hearts broken yet again. I agree, and would further add: Who cares? Every spring I go out there anyway, around the bend, unconditionally. ... Come the end of the dark days, I am more than joyful. I'm nuts.”
Slowing Down: Try this for the month of April
Much like in autumn with fall foliage, we have entered month marked by rapid changes to the trees.
So right now, take a moment to think back to last spring. Was there a particular tree in your neighborhood that really stood out during spring blossom season? Perhaps its a magnolia, fruit tree, or dogwood?
Whatever it is, book some time on your calendar to visit that tree.
Take time to notice it go through all its stages. Try documenting with a camera on with each visit.
If you read the newsletter regularly and want to support it and have full access to all posts, an easy way is to sign up as a paid subscriber as a way to show your support and appreciation.