For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come. Song of Solomon 2:11-12 KJV
This verse seems to me to be about spring. It’s been set to music and years ago (in another life) I taught it to Primary Choir children.
Driving home yesterday this scripture kept coming to mind and I struggled to remember the exact words and the melody we sang.
I had spent the day at Couchwood, the home of my BFF Pat. The yard of the early-Twentieth Century home is beautiful this time of year, though I think this is the first time I’ve seen it in all its glory. We walked around the one-acre as I oohed and aahed at the gorgeous plants, many whose names I can’t remember today. Besides the pink dogwood, there was sassafras, snowball, pinks, morning glories and lambs ear … they are the ones I recall.
I would ask the name, Pat would tell me and perhaps give a little history. “Mom planted this iris bed … I don’t know how long ago.” The white blooms return faithfully every year. We were accompanied on our walk by the singing of a cardinal, high in one of the giant trees.
There is a reason why the yard at Couchwood is prettier than the one at Hatfield Haven (I just made that up). Pat loves to help it look good, I don’t particularly enjoy working in the yard. (I talk about that on July 14, 2010.) She gave me some lambs ear and fern-y looking plant and I dutifully followed instructions on how to put them in the ground.
I’ll let you know how that works out.
To read Pat’s poetry and prose visit www.patlaster.com.
Whoa!! Nice post on your visit. Thank you very much. Easter Day has been productive in lots of ways. I hate to leave all these flowers, but perhaps the “traffic” will enjoy the roadside irises. (Is the plural of iris “Irises”? I need to look that up.) And thanks for the colored eggs. When I mentioned your gift today, most of the women had already heard of the specie of hen that lays colored eggs. I’m still enjoying them. BTW, I haven’t had supper yet. xoxo. Good Easter week to you.
I love Pat’s yard! Great post and great verse. Happy Easter!
I haven’t seen Pat’s yard in person, but I’ve heard about all her flowers and have a picture in my mind. Glad you spent Easter together. I love the verse from Song of Solomon. It’ certainly speaks to the beauty around us this week.