Canticle
Apr 21, 2010, 5:09 PM
England in April and the sun is now high enough in the sky, to warm the earth below, causing blossom to come forth and flowers, to raise their heads, to gaze at the golden orb, hanging in the sky.
I live in a village in England and rejoice at the changing of the countryside, at different points in the calendar. I may not like the cold weather, or any snow, which comes our way, but I am able to accept this cycle of the seasons.
The snow appears to warm the earth below, in some manner, for after it is gone, nature sniffs the air, feels spring around the corner and lets rip. The snowdrop will be noticed first, followed by the crocus and then the trumpeting daffodil.
The many shades of green, have to organise themselves into an orderly queue. Yes, they would all like to be displaying at the same time, but Mother Nature, demands that they behave and await their turn, to show themselves, in all glory, to the world.
So March has gone and now it is already mid April. The daffodils are beginning to die back. Tulips will soon wave their haughty heads about, looking around and thinking how special they are. The other flowers will ignore them, for they have grown used to the Tulips’ swollen heads.
Little yellow flowers appear upon neat green lawns, but these are not buttercups. Daisies will join them and the wild pansy and standing tall and so proud, the most beautiful wild primrose. Kings and Queens of the grassland are the dandelions. Lawns and fields will be covered with these most beautiful wild flowers and when the floral aspect of their life cycle is finished, fluffy dandelion clocks will await the light breezes, to carry the seeds far and wide.
White and pink blossom are prevalent, though sadly, this does not last, as a wind, swaying the branches, will send snow petals to the ground below. Many gardens will sport the beautiful Magnolia, but the Magnolia is not safe. April can see hard frosts, which will destroy the beautiful blooms.
How pretty the flowers are, but what is more beautiful to me, are the varying greens, to be seen on trees, shrubs, grass…everywhere. The trees, some already in leaf, some still waiting for buds to unfurl, are becoming so alive, after the winter season. April is a launch pad for the greenery. It just gets better and better, as the spring and summer go on.
The birds sing and chase one another…’’This is my little kingdom, not yours,’’ cries out one blackbird to his foe. Woodpeckers do, what Woodpeckers do and if the wind is in the right direction, the sound of them drilling holes into trees, is carried upon the breeze. Wood Pigeons, march up and down, males dancing for females, who so often, just fly away.
The ‘invader,’ Grey Squirrel, builds a dray, calls to his friends, with a noise, that is not at all pleasant and scampers about trees and gardens, looking for free food. Officially, these long tailed rodents, not being native to the country and causing damage to trees, are classed as vermin, but that is not their fault. A squirrel, just like the Woodpecker does what a squirrel has to do….and they are most amusing.
Mr Fox and Mr Badger will venture into the village, at night, scurrying along the lanes, rabbits will be seen at the side of the road and if one is very lucky, a Hare may be seen, stood, like some colossus, in a field.
April is when the cuckoo returns and to hear a cuckoo is a most wondrous experience. ‘’Did I just hear a Cuckoo, or didn’t I?’’ A person has to stand quite still and listen very carefully, but if it the bird is a Cuckoo and not some Pigeon, then the call is most distinctive.
The village pond, will see the Moorhens….or are they Coots, raising several generations during the spring and summer. They are so funny to watch, as they scurry about on their long legs. The ducks are gone now, so we have more frogs surviving. Maybe some will migrate to my garden and hide in the grass. I have lizards in my garden. Tiny, green and black creatures. So small, that they are hardly ever seen.
Now, I have a new visitor to the garden. Mr Mole. Today I looked through the window and there was a molehill. Someone had better not get any ideas, about chasing him away. How cool, to be visited by a mole. They are beautiful animals.
As nice as this April is, it could never be my favourite month. April is merely the bridesmaid and not the blushing bride. The bride is May. May, is the most beautiful of months. The white flowers of the Hawthorn, blossoming in the hedgerows. Swallows and the House Martins, returning from southern parts. The trees are in full leaf, flowers galore and everything growing so well, in the farmers’ fields. Yes, this month is being glorious, but May will be magnificent.
I live in a village in England and rejoice at the changing of the countryside, at different points in the calendar. I may not like the cold weather, or any snow, which comes our way, but I am able to accept this cycle of the seasons.
The snow appears to warm the earth below, in some manner, for after it is gone, nature sniffs the air, feels spring around the corner and lets rip. The snowdrop will be noticed first, followed by the crocus and then the trumpeting daffodil.
The many shades of green, have to organise themselves into an orderly queue. Yes, they would all like to be displaying at the same time, but Mother Nature, demands that they behave and await their turn, to show themselves, in all glory, to the world.
So March has gone and now it is already mid April. The daffodils are beginning to die back. Tulips will soon wave their haughty heads about, looking around and thinking how special they are. The other flowers will ignore them, for they have grown used to the Tulips’ swollen heads.
Little yellow flowers appear upon neat green lawns, but these are not buttercups. Daisies will join them and the wild pansy and standing tall and so proud, the most beautiful wild primrose. Kings and Queens of the grassland are the dandelions. Lawns and fields will be covered with these most beautiful wild flowers and when the floral aspect of their life cycle is finished, fluffy dandelion clocks will await the light breezes, to carry the seeds far and wide.
White and pink blossom are prevalent, though sadly, this does not last, as a wind, swaying the branches, will send snow petals to the ground below. Many gardens will sport the beautiful Magnolia, but the Magnolia is not safe. April can see hard frosts, which will destroy the beautiful blooms.
How pretty the flowers are, but what is more beautiful to me, are the varying greens, to be seen on trees, shrubs, grass…everywhere. The trees, some already in leaf, some still waiting for buds to unfurl, are becoming so alive, after the winter season. April is a launch pad for the greenery. It just gets better and better, as the spring and summer go on.
The birds sing and chase one another…’’This is my little kingdom, not yours,’’ cries out one blackbird to his foe. Woodpeckers do, what Woodpeckers do and if the wind is in the right direction, the sound of them drilling holes into trees, is carried upon the breeze. Wood Pigeons, march up and down, males dancing for females, who so often, just fly away.
The ‘invader,’ Grey Squirrel, builds a dray, calls to his friends, with a noise, that is not at all pleasant and scampers about trees and gardens, looking for free food. Officially, these long tailed rodents, not being native to the country and causing damage to trees, are classed as vermin, but that is not their fault. A squirrel, just like the Woodpecker does what a squirrel has to do….and they are most amusing.
Mr Fox and Mr Badger will venture into the village, at night, scurrying along the lanes, rabbits will be seen at the side of the road and if one is very lucky, a Hare may be seen, stood, like some colossus, in a field.
April is when the cuckoo returns and to hear a cuckoo is a most wondrous experience. ‘’Did I just hear a Cuckoo, or didn’t I?’’ A person has to stand quite still and listen very carefully, but if it the bird is a Cuckoo and not some Pigeon, then the call is most distinctive.
The village pond, will see the Moorhens….or are they Coots, raising several generations during the spring and summer. They are so funny to watch, as they scurry about on their long legs. The ducks are gone now, so we have more frogs surviving. Maybe some will migrate to my garden and hide in the grass. I have lizards in my garden. Tiny, green and black creatures. So small, that they are hardly ever seen.
Now, I have a new visitor to the garden. Mr Mole. Today I looked through the window and there was a molehill. Someone had better not get any ideas, about chasing him away. How cool, to be visited by a mole. They are beautiful animals.
As nice as this April is, it could never be my favourite month. April is merely the bridesmaid and not the blushing bride. The bride is May. May, is the most beautiful of months. The white flowers of the Hawthorn, blossoming in the hedgerows. Swallows and the House Martins, returning from southern parts. The trees are in full leaf, flowers galore and everything growing so well, in the farmers’ fields. Yes, this month is being glorious, but May will be magnificent.