Hi, everyone! I am traveling this week, so I’m taking this week and next week off. Please enjoy this short post, and see you in May!
Spring gets going early in our part of Switzerland. I took the photo below back in February. This tree, surrounded by crocuses, seems to be sending us a valentine and a promise that warmer weather will be coming soon.
The true sign of spring here, though, is not crocuses—or robins either. It’s when the cows come out of the barn and into the field, which at our elevation (560m) usually happens in late March.
The Alps allow us to travel back in time: The higher the elevation, the later the spring. At 1200m, the trees are still in full bloom in mid-April.
At 1900m, winter is still putting up a good fight at the end of April:
Every July I like to hike above 2000m to experience spring one more time before autumn sets in—to escape the summer heat, feel the cool breeze, and see the flowers blooming once again.
How about you, readers? What are your favorite spring activities? Any fun plans for spring break? Please share your thoughts in the comments!
The Tidbit
The title of this post is a translation of the title of one of my favorite Schubert lieder, “Frühlingsglaube.” The video below is the loveliest performance of the song I have ever heard. Enjoy!
And here is an English translation by Malcolm Wren of the original poem by Johann Ludwig Uhland, which you can find at Schubertsong.uk. I hope this post’s photos, the song, and the poem will help all our poor hearts forget our distress.
Faith in Spring
The soothing breezes have woken up,
They are rustling and weaving day and night,
They are creating things everywhere.
Oh fresh fragrance, oh new sound!
Now poor heart, do not be anxious!
Now everything, everything has to change.
The world is going to become more beautiful every day,
Nobody knows what might still happen,
The blossoming does not want to end.
The most distant, deepest valley is coming into blossom.
Now poor heart, forget your distress!
Now everything, everything has to change.
A a long-time teacher spring coincides with the end of the semester so I associate it with graduation and exams. Commencement is a feature of my many springs.