Though the crocuses poke up their heads in the usual places
The frog scum appear on the pond with the same froth of green,
And boys moon at girls with last year’s fatuous faces,
I never am bored, however familiar the scene.
When from under the barn the cat brings a similar litter,-
Two yellow and black, and one that looks in between,-
Though it all happened before, I cannot grow bitter;
I rejoice in the spring, as though no spring had been.
-Theodore Roethke
FIRST
DAY
OF
SPRING
IN
THE
GARDEN
Need I say more?
Wherever you are, whether spring is knocking loudly or quietly at your door, please tell me, how are you welcoming it in?
And for those of you welcoming in another season these days, here’s a little ditty I recorded to remind us all that spring is as much a state of mind as a date on the calendar.
This tune, It Might As Well Be Spring, by Rodgers and Hammerstein, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1945. Now I know that may be well before your time. Heck, it’s even before my time! But it has endured, and been covered by some great artists: Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, to name a few. I’m not in their league, but I sure had fun singing it.
Click here to listen:
Happy Spring!
***********************************************************************************
WHY NOT START NOW?
living deep studio 
According to this in the know, spring entered here around 1:30pm on Saturday. Our last day of winter and first day of spring was absolutely beautiful; sunny and warm. I spent the day outdoors at a charity event and was able to enjoy the warm weather. Our Sunday changed to overcast and rainy, but that is the nature of spring. Bringing in the rain so that all the plant life may regain their glorious shades of green and the flowers may share their beautiful colors.
My daughter and I planted some flower seeds about a week ago, and we noticed they just began peeking their little sprouts through the top of the soil. Our milkweed died back over the winter, and after pruning it back it’s now full of green leaves and starting to grow. Spring is definately here, and it’s great to see the signs in nature.
Isn’t that the best, Eric? When a plant dies back and you prune it, and then you see those little green leaves? I love that, and have been going around checking every few days. And I love the story of how you spent the first day of spring. Wonderful! Thanks.
Hi Patty! I love that song! And yeah I am sure restless for spring! Seems every year there is SO much going on in spring that I feel like, after a long winter, I am just springing into action! I see my daffodils up about 4 inches in my back yard and I know in a few weeks I’ll be out there doing spring clean up. My enthusiasm for this yardwork is peaking, but I know me, and after one day into it I will schedule a massage!
hugs,
suZen
That is hilarious, suZen! I do that too, so much zeal for the pruning and cleaning up, and then after an hour, it’s like, “I’m done now.” This year I did manage to get through all of it in bits and pieces, except just one more area to prune. And for my climate, I’m late. But the plants are pretty forgiving, I’ve learned. Maybe I’ll take your advice and get a massage afterwards! Thanks and hugs!
I am spending these first days of spring teaching my daughter how to ride bike and eating outside as much as I can. It doesn’t get any better than this!
You are so right, Angela. It doesn’t get any better. I went out for breakfast on Sunday morning, in the little town of Occidental, and sat on the restaurant porch. It was just a bit chilly, but a pure delight. Thanks!
Oh my goodness, Patty! There is so much here for me to comment on. Just delightful!
The second stanza about a cat and her litter – this brings me back to my childhood, in my father’s barn. Hearing the tiny mews of newborn kittens. Crawling with my dad into the hay loft, and finding the place where the mama cat hid her babies. So tiny their eyes are still closed.
What a beautiful yard you have! Thank you for sharing these photos with us. I recognize many of the flowers, although you would be shocked if I sent you photos of my yard. We are months behind you – so I appreciate your colorful photos even more.
Rodgers and Hammerstein. Ah! My parents loved R&H musicals. I recall one Sunday after church watching the R&H version of Cinderella, all of us piled on to the couch. At the time, I thought it was not as good as the Disney version. Funny.
Finally, do you know Kristen at http://mothereseblog.com? She is one of the first blogs I read every day, and this morning she also posted a poem about Spring. I love it!
Wow, how wonderful, Eva. Memories of kitties, gardens, and R & H! But I wouldn’t be shocked if I saw your garden. I lived in Wisconsin for a year, so I know that even though my garden may be a bit ahead of yours, the lushness of Midwestern gardens is amazing. And you’re made me think about those plants – can I even remember all their names? I’ll give it a try: white potato vine, Tuscan blue rosemary, penstemon, coral bells, Carolina jessamine, bush ladybells and diascia, and finally another potato vine, this one purple. Thanks so much!
We welcomed spring in Portland with a beautiful summer-like day, and I think everyone in the city reveled in its glory. Today I’m continuing the celebration by welcoming my son-in-law home from deployment in Iraq!
Thanks for the gorgeous shots of the garden, I love it!
I love Portland, Charlotte. Sounds like a great way to spend a great day in a great city. Thanks!
Ahhhh spring 🙂
Unfortunately, down here in Austin, we welcomed spring with a series of freeze warnings. Looks to be warming up though – so here’s to a beautiful season!
Oh no, Jeffrey, freeze warnings in Austin? I’ve never been, but I always imagine it full of gorgeous wildflowers and great music. Those wildflowers are just around the corner, I imagine. So here’s to a beautiful spring to you too!
HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING:~)
I loved this!!!! Pictures of flowers, daring to open their eyes…wonderful. A great Monday joy.
A perfect way to say it, Sara – daring to open their eyes. Love it! Thanks.
Gorgeous all around, Patty. The last line of each stanza of the poem is so true for me, too.
My little guy sadly ended up in the ER on Saturday (kids!) during our mini getaway. But, he loved spending the following morning in the gorgeous garden where we stayed, aptly called the garden house; listening to the birds, smelling the flowers and chilling out under the sun with a fantastic view of the lagoon and the ocean.
Oh no, Belinda! But it sounds like it all turned out okay, and your description of the next day sounds idyllic. It doesn’t get any better than that. Thanks for sharing it!
What a lovely treat to hear you sing that wonderful old song. It is a rainy twilight here, and I found your singing to be marvelously soothing!
Spring is welcome, for me, this year, both in the outer world and within myself. I hope that it will hold “more hellos than goodbyes” as another song says.
Beautiful post.
Thank you, Shay. I very much like the idea of singing to you in rainy twilight. And I like what you say about spring within as well. Such a season of renewal, for all those hellos you speak of.
Whoa! So much green! And so much life!
Love the song by the way. I’m going to have to search out Ella Fitzgerald’s version now. She was fabulous! 🙂
Thanks so much, Tony. Do check it out. You can listen online and you will love it!
Right here, where my root is planted, we only have sunny and rainy seasons, but I do like what you said, “…spring is as much a state of mind as a date on the calendar.” Yep, seasons come and go just like how our moods change in the passing of time. Awesome post, Patty!!
Hi Ryhen – Now I’m curious – where are you planted? And I’ve always loved seasonal metaphors. Spring is such a time of waking up, and can happen internally any time of year. Thanks for the comment!
I love this – The first day of spring the Virginia was beyond gorgeous if that is possible. It was picture perfect. We celebrated with a little walk through Georgetown and across the river before breakfast and ballet rehearsals for the Wizard of Oz before jumping in the car and driving to Colonial Williamsburg to do some exploring.
I am keeping an eye on my rose to see the first signs of new growth. It is something I anticipate every year… and the knowledge that the spruce (tiny) from Nebraska a few summers ago made it through another winter… and the idea of my fingers in soil… ah, spring!
It sounds amazing, Mia. Love your description of the day. And I have always wanted to visit your part of the country, and Colonial Williamsburg has been on my list for a long time. I’m getting such a sensation of fingers in the soil as I read what you write. I know that well! Thanks!
Loving Spring so much – thanks for the great pictures from the garden. It really does feel like a rebirth for life. I’m celebrating spring by clearing out my garden, planting some new flowers for the summer. I’m celebrating by spending more quality time with those I love. I’m celebrating by doing some mental spring cleaning and getting my head shiny and clean for the great days ahead. Lovely post!
Phil
Ah, I’d love to see your garden, Phil. One of my all-time favorite shows was “City Gardener.” Can’t remember the guy’s name, but he created beautiful, small, magical English gardens. Maybe he was even in London. Sounds like your spring celebration is in full swing. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Patty.
You have such a lovely tone to your voice. I needed this last night as I tossed and turned for over two hours trying to get to sleep. This would be a good lullabye.
“Spring is as much a state of mind as a date on the calendar.” I couldn’t agree more. I love how you interspersed the words between the photographs here.
Thanks, Davina! I wish I could have sung you to sleep. I’m a firm believer in storytelling and soft soulful singing at bedtime, and one particularly difficult night my husband did sing me to sleep.
Hi Patty,
Love the song – 40’s my favorite song era. They might have it at a karaoke night! You sound sultry, like Nina Simone.
I’m celebrating spring here in the northeast by getting back into my daily walk. Walk all over my town as soon as the Earth warms. Great way to meet people and see the little things folks whiz by and miss in their cars. Soon, I’ll take out the bike and the kayak too!
Winter makes me appreciate Spring even more!
Thx. Giulietta
Hi Giulietta – Welcome, so nice to see you here! I like what you say about walking, how we see things that we don’t in a car. You sound like a going gal. Thanks for bringing that springtime energy over here!
Happy Spring! Thanks for sharing your backyard and for the marvelous song! Spring is such an exciting time of rebirth, of possibilities …
Yes! I so agree.
How beautifully written — the whole thing. Not just the poetry, but the philosophy.
Our spring comes in huffing and puffing its cold breath across the lake waters. Slow to warm. Slow to green. But when it does, the huffing turns to balmy breeze on which the colors and fragrance ride.
Love the way you say that Barb – huffing and puffing its cold breath. Speaking of poetry, your whole comment is that! Thanks.
hi patty,
how are you?
i guess spring is knocking on my door in london quietly or faintly.
it’s rained in the last 3 days and i’ve just looked out of the window and guess what it’s cloudy!!!
my sister just came back from budapest and she stated it was snowing.
can i really complain? emmm no.
i will just go on with the flow for now lol!!
I’m good Ayo, how about you? I’m feeling it a bit myself, because we had some rain last night too. But that’s the mercurial nature of early spring, right? So going with the flow sounds good to me. Thanks!
The photos and how you did this is like a breathe of fresh air in the spring time! Thanks for this because spring in AZ doesn’t look like this at all. Although we’ve had so much rain the mountains are green and the hiking is great.
Oh, I love the desert wildflowers and green, Tess. Also a remarkable way to welcome in spring. Thanks!
Patty, I am traveling backwards in time a little to catch up with commenting. Thank you for visiting and commenting on spring vibrations in my garden here in Japan. It is a delight to enjoy your garden.
And thank you for the poem – I especially understand, “I never am bored, however familiar the scene,” and “I rejoice in the spring, as though no spring had been.”
Celebrating this season with you – Catrien Ross.
Thank you, Catrien. It’s wonderful to celebrate it with you!
Pingback: Meaning Mondays: Creative Chick Meets Warrior Woman Edition « Why Not Start Now?
Pingback: Meaning Mondays: A Simple Philosophy Emerges « Why Not Start Now?