For us, the full moon in April is the Seed Moon. In truth, most of our tender and long season seeds were started on or near the Spring Equinox, but the hardier seeds and shorter season seeds will be planted indoors. And, though our last frost date is still a few weeks away, several cool weather seeds will go outside at this time too. The soil is no longer frozen, though the danger of frost is very present, this is when we can plant those hardy, cold-weather seeds that are marked "plant as soon as soil can be worked in the spring", sugar snap peas, cabbage, lettuce and radishes for example. Some of them we already planted at the Spring Equinox, and those will be showing signs of life now, if they survived the last frost, and we'll be planting the rest of the cool weather garden now.

This is also a great time to plant dormant trees and shrubs in my area. It's best to plant them ASAP after they've arrived, but the ground might be rock hard until about now. The actual planting activity might not be today, but right around this time, depending on other factors. The seed moon often happens in Scorpio which makes it an excellent time for planting leafy greens, but it also happens in Libra, which is best for flowers and fragrant herbs. The energy of the full moon encourages strong root growth.

The seed moon marks the swelling and sprouting of seeds as well as a burst of fresh, new growth all around the garden. Asparagus and rhubarb are starting to make a showing and the weeds are already in full swing. This is a great time for wildcrafting as wild greens taste best in cool early spring and soon grow bitter as things heat up. I enjoy garlic mustard, a noxious weed that tastes great with potatoes, just as it emerges so it doesn't get a chance to take over my shady spots. Dandelion greens are best this time of year too. I don't uproot dandelions like I do garlic mustard, but pick a few leaves here and there because I enjoy gathering the flowering tops later on and my rabbits love them always.

Other signs of spring abound today. The birds returned last month with the Crow Moon and now they're building nests and laying eggs. And what are eggs but baby bird seeds? The hens are laying too, in abundance, though they've been doing that for a few weeks now. We've gotten used to only eating eggs a few times a week over the winter when their laying slowed down. Now we're overrun and are thinking of resorting to pickling them already! Everything is alive.

The energy of the Seed Moon can be harnessed in spells for fertility and for encouraging things to come to fruition.

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