Let’s see what Nicholas Breton has to say for April.
He, if you are new round here, was the author of Fantasticks, a weird collection of strangely spelled observation published in 1626.
APRILL
It is now April, and the Nightingale begins to tune her throat against May: the Sunny showers perfume the aire, and the Bees begin to goe abroad for honey: the Dewe, as in Pearles, hangs upon the tops of the grasse, while the Turtles sit billing upon the little greene boughes: the Trowt begins to play in the Brookes, and the Sammon leaves the Sea, to play in the fresh waters: The Garden bankes are full of gay flowers, and the Thorne and the Plumme send forth their faire Blossomes: the March Colt begins to play, and the Cosset Lamb is learned to butt.
The Poets now make their studies in the woods, & the Youth of the Country make ready for the Morris-dance; the little Fishes lye nibling at a bait, and the Porpas playes in the pride of the tide: the Shepheardes pipe entertaines the Princesse of Arcadia, and the healthfull Souldier hath a pleasant march. The Larke and the Lambe looke up at the Sun, and the labourer is abroad by the dawning of the day: Sheepes eyes in Lambs heads, tell kind hearts strange tales, while faith and troth make the true Lovers knot: the aged haires find a fresh life, and the youthfull cheeks are as red as a cherry: It were a world to set downe the worth of this moneth: But in summe, I thus conclude, I hold it the Heavens blessing, and the Earths comfort.
Farewell.
Turtles are Turtle Doves I would imagine.
Not much Heaven’s blessing or Earth’s comfort around this neck of the woods yet (perhaps in Washington State?) but it’s a goodly way to go ’til May.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Well, the aged haires have emerged here and there are plenty of red cheeks around.
Things I have just learned about Turtle Doves.
Streptopelia turtur
Their name derives from the ‘tur, tur’ sound they make, and not as I had assumed, from the ‘turtle neck’ markings around their necks. You have to admit it sounds less poetic to say ‘billing and tur-turring like a pair of turtle doves’.
Turtle Doves are migratory and ‘winter’, (to use the northern-hemisphere-centric term) in southern Africa. They are amongst the latest arrivals in northern Europe, appearing only in late April. It would appear that Mr Breton was getting ahead of himself in describing their presence at the beginning of the month.
‘My true love sent to me’ a total of 22 turtle doves. Which leads me to ask, according to the Christmas song, of which of her gifts did I receive the most?
It is seriously spot on for this neck of the woods.
the thorn and the plum are doing their bit. The baby goats at the back are learning to butt and the cows and horses next door are running round the fields kicking up their legs playing rocking horses.
Spousal unit is bitching like mad as he can’t get to mow before mid afternoon the dew is so heavy!
Not too sure about this ‘aged haire’ finding fresh life but we try, we try!
PS This little corner of Arcadia is now due 4 days of rain after two weeks of brilliant sunshine so that’ll cheer you up LW!!!!
Not happening here either, it snowed again today, but we live in hope of “sunny showers” and poets in the woods.
Sounds like their poetic bits might get frozen off!
Talking of poets in the woods, our cherished home page could do with an update for April, innit? 🙂
Our first cold front has passed
Bringing with it the first signs of autumn
With it, early darkness
And temperatures to a chilly overnight 10
Meanwhile, as we slip into autumn http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/890299