by Domnall Óg
Home >> Springtime
After the frosty winter it is time to make a damage report on the garden. The dahlias have been devasted by the January frost and the thin stem of the nasturtian, brought over from my mother’s garden, seems tired and undernourished.
The winter sun has encouraged the hated madreselva to creep like a malevolent spider along the fence. The only way to combat its execrable tendrils is to uproot it. This is easier said than done as its roots must now be somewhere between Tasmania and Melbourne.
I have, ready for planting, a small ivy plant (Parthenocissus Quinquefolio) that on maturity will spread green and claret leaves along the side wall of the garden. It sits on my bookcase in a green plastic nursery bag trying to contain itself. It has already produced a shoot.
Due to merciless pruning last autumn the housemartins, swifts and sparrows who nested with us last year will have to look elsewhere to set up home. I’ll miss the teatime calls of sparrow chicks hidden in foilage. But I’ll still enjoy the laughing cries of the swallows sometimes mistaken for bats in the early evening air.
And the human race, for all its technology and talk, is not immune to the cycle of the seasons. Tennyson, the English poet, reminds us in his poem ‘Locksley Hall’:
“In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love”
And who can deny that, as nature renews its vows with the planet, we breathe new life into our plans, our hopes and our loves?
But too much science and too much modern life have ,for some, made the springtime a time of blocked sinuses and oozy eyes. Allergies to pollen, what we call ‘hay fever’ have increased dramatically in recent years. We are reduced, in some cases, to dependence on antihistamines and decongestants. Alas, not the stuff of poetry.
In Madrid, summer is just a three month buzz of radiation that fries insects and dessicates plants. That’s why I like springtime. A gentle breeze and the warm nuzzle of sunlight.
Some people prefer summer because they can go and climb mountains and swim in the sea. Others prefer the colours of autumn – the oranges, brown and gold of fallen leaves. Some, strange in my opinion, prefer winter and the I suppose we all have a season inside us. Perhaps those of us who love spring have a garden inside us and that explains our joy at this time of the year.
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Hi,
I can’t help but adding a comment to this topic cause I’m in love with spring and summer. Both are my favourite seasons, everything looks brighter under the sun. I know you can find beauty in every season, but, for someone like me, always freezing during the winter, hot weather is a reason to feel happy and have positive thoughts (I’m a positive woman, anytime, but specially with a beautiful blue sky!!!). I’m not lazy to do thousands of things, to go out or travel anywhere and my energy increases. It’s as if my whole body was created for spring!!!!
To all those like me, our time has come. Enjoy it!!!
Paloma
No springtime here in Germany yet! Maybe it´ll start getting warm at Easter…
I add myself to the list of spring-lovers. It is my favourite time of year. The grass is green, the flowers are blooming and the temperature is just right. More than early spring, though, I prefer late spring…
Tra la, it’s May, the lusty Month of May
That lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray
Tra la, it’s here, that shocking time of year
When tons of wicked little thoughts merrily appear
It’s May, It’s May, that gorgeous holiday
When every maiden prays that her lad will be a cad
It’s mad, it’s gay, alive, a lust display
Those dreary vows that everyone takes, everyone breaks
Everyone makes divine mistakes
The Lusty Month of May
Whence this fragrance wafting through the air?
What sweet feelings does it’s scent transmute?
Whence this perfume floating everywhere?
Don’t you know, it’s that dear forbidden fruit
It’s May, the lusty month of May
That darling month when everyone throws self-control away
It’s time to do a wretched thing or two
And try to make each precious day one you’ll always rue
It’s May, it’s May, the month of “Yes, you may”
The time for every frivolous whim, proper or im-
It’s wild, it’s gay, depraved in every way
The birds and bees with all of their vast amorous past
Gaze at the human race aghast
The Lusty Month of May
Spring isn’t only good and warm weather. Sometimes we forget it is a rainy time as well. Do you like it too?
Don’t you feel the same feelings in a nice day of winter? I usually see the people happy with blue and clean sky, if it is fresh or warm. Perhaps it doesn’t depends of the season.
Anyway although most of us love spring or good weather, depressed people hate it. Do you know the scientific reason?
I wish I could name every plant and flower that is blooming in my garden, but it would take me too much time with my dictionary. I only want to add that springtime is also a great season for me. I’ve been taking a photo every sunday of my trees and their flowers that are quickly flowering. Three little birds (I’ve promised myself no to use the dictionary, and I guess that “golondrin” is not the word) have recently abandoned their nest, I hope they learnt to fly. I also hope there are no eagles near home… Other neighbours have visited my garden. Ants! I adore animals, even some insects, but these hard-working friends are the enemies of garden’s owners. I expect they found some accomodation elsewhere. I told my gardener to convice them to move.
Ahh, spring, too many emotions for everyone!
Dónal and Wesley, I think the main reason why you like springtime is because your birthdays are in April and in May, and you get a lot of presents. For the same reason, my favourite season is autumn. I’m an October girl.
Hello Paola,
What’s that about a lot of presents? At my age you keep your birthday a big secret!!!!
I’ve just planted some sunflowers. I wonder how long before they grow?
I think Paola is right. I didn’t think about it before but my favorite season is summer and I was born in August…
I am an October, and an Autumn, person, too. My children were born in autumn months. There is no autumn in my tropics. Neither is there spring and winter. But it’s because of autumn, among other things, that I choose not to live in my tropics!
P.S. to everyone: So that we’re 100% sure who you are, please register
Two things:
1. Even the rain in Spring is more pleasant.
and
2. Maybe my liking of Spring has to do with the fact that I was born in May but I think it is more of a personality thing…which, supposedly, is affected by the month in which I was born. So, perhaps my birthday indirectly has something to do with it. But it’s not because of the presents. The older you get, the less presents you get. I always preferred going out and buying my own things anyway…