Some Impressions of Spring

Inspired by my friend Barbara, let's start spring  with a poem by none other than Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

THE SPRING ORACLE. by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

OH prophetic bird so bright,
Blossom-songster, cuckoo bight!
In the fairest time of year,
Dearest bird, oh! deign to hear
What a youthful pair would pray,
Do thou call, if hope they may:
Thy cuck-oo, thy cuck-oo.
Ever more cuck-oo, cuck-oo!

Hearest thou? A loving pair
Fain would to the altar fare;
Yes! a pair in happy youth,
Full of virtue, full of truth.
Is the hour not fix'd by fate?
Say, how long must they still wait?
Hark! cuck-oo! hark! cuck-oo!
Silent yet! for shame, cuck-oo!

'Tis not our fault, certainly!
Only two years patient be!
But if we ourselves please here,
Will pa-pa-papas appear?
Know that thou'lt more kindness do us,
More thou'lt prophesy unto us.
One! cuck-oo! Two! cuck-oo!
Ever, ever, cuck-oo, cuck-oo, coo!

If we've calculated clearly,
We have half a dozen nearly.
If good promises we'll give,
Wilt thou say how long we'II live?
Truly, we'll confess to thee,
We'd prolong it willingly.
Coo cuck-oo, coo cuck-oo,
Coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo!

Life is one continued feast--
(If we keep no score, at least).
If now we together dwell,
Will true love remain as well?
For if that should e'er decay,
Happiness would pass away.
Coo cuck-oo, coo cuck-oo,
Coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo, coo!

Granted - the German version sounds better, but I hope not too much got lost in this translation. 

The dogwoods in front of the house and behind are in full bloom:

 And the butterflies feed happily on the bluebells:

The tulips are in full bloom: 

And the dogs are happy campers too:

Joint sniffing excursion in the yard.

He also thinks he looks extremely handsome posing in my tulips. 

Bicalina was seen sorting out some sage. 

Tessa in the meantime is having a watchful eye on those two rascals who usually are up to no good.

Meandering around some more in the yard I came upon first signs of blooming azaleas and rhododendron:

Thanks for joining me on my little tour of the yard. The grass still looks as if dogs live here, but the flowers are starting to make up for the doggy racetrack around the veggie patch. :-)