Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I’ve got a wonderful feeling,
Everything’s going my way. ~lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, from “Oklahoma!”
I’ve spent the early hours of the past few mornings in the garden, with the moments between weeding and planting spent enjoying the sparkle of early morning light. The woods are showing a soft green blush of unfurling leaves as the garden begins its April bloom cycle. Yesterday morning a golden shimmer of light reflected on dewy flowers; this morning the almost full moon still hung in the morning sky while the birds sang their dawn chorus. I couldn’t help myself – I broke into song with them. “Oh What a Beautiful Morning!” is a personal favorite of mine and it seemed so descriptive of the moment. “All the sounds of the earth are like music” – who knew Oscar was so poetic?
Here are a few images from the late April garden. Enjoy!
All photos ©2013 by Lynn Emberg Purse, All RIghts Reserved
composerinthegarden 
How fun to revisit this wonderful blog post. Oh what a beautiful day song is so perfect. And your photos are such a breath of fresh air right now.
Thanks, CheyAnne! I hope you are singing that song on a beautiful morning in New Mexico 🙂
Oh I am thank you and I hope you are too
Thank you for this beautiful clip on “Oklahoma”. The music and the amazing pictures of your garden gave me a soothing escape into another world. 😉
Malou, thank you for stopping by again. Glad you enjoyed the “Oklahoma” clip – I often sing “O What a Beautiful Morning” when I’m in the garden. 🙂
Looked at everysingle photo and loved each and almost everyone of them. Amazingly beautiufl gardens you have there girl and I’m so glad you came to tell me about your cherry tree. Stunning for sure. Thanks for the visit to my blog too.
CheyAnne, thank you for your generous comments! I’m delighted that you enjoyed your visit here; I always love visiting your blog and seeing your beautiful paintings.
Some lovely photos of delicate beauties.
Happy spring and enjoy!
By the way, are you aware of the Music Garden in Toronto? See latest blog post of mine. It’s a little parkette.
Thanks, Jean. I have always wanted to visit the Music Garden; I have met the garden designer who created it, Julie Moir Messervy – she deeply influenced the design of my current garden with her book “The Inward Garden” and spoke here about the creation of the Music Garden in collaboration with cellist Yo Yo Ma. Inspiration at many levels.
Oh! Your garden is so beautiful already, Lynn! I was singing that song this morning when I was out on my walk. It’s a gorgeous day. 🙂
Thank you Robin; the garden has already changed dramatically even from last week when I took these photos. Spring is very “springy” here! Nice to know that I’m not the only one who sings in the great outdoors 🙂
So beautiful already! I loved all of the pictures and I got to view them while listening to one of my favorite musicals. (I still can’t figure out why I like that musical–ghetto girl meets Oklahoma???) But the first time I saw this movie and heard the score, I was consumed with happiness and walked on cloud nine all day long. What a riot. Thanks for a delightful morning.
Eleanor, you are not alone in your reaction to this show. Here is an account of the opening night on Broadway, courtesy of Oklahoma! Premieres on Broadway:
“From the very first moment on opening night, however, Oklahoma! hit a nerve. The show’s choreographer, the legendary Agnes DeMille, later recalled the audience reaction to that opening number, “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’: “[It] produced a sigh from the entire house, that I don’t think I’ve ever heard in the theater. It was just, ‘aaaahh…’ It was perfectly lovely, and deeply felt.”
Lovely photos – wish it was gardening season here!
Thanks for visiting, Margie. Vicarious spring can help; shouldn’t be too long for you to enjoy your own 🙂
Good morning Lynn and what a lovely morning it is here in Wincanton. Lovely flowers and it was good to hear Oklahoma again; it’s been quite sometime since I last listened to it.
Hello, Chris, and delighted to hear that your part of the world is awake and beautiful!
Did you also catch the recent production of Carousel on PBS last week? I’ve never heard the orchestral component of the show sounding better:
http://video.pbs.org/video/2364999751/
I did not but it is on the site to which you linked – thanks, Steve! Something to look forward to once school is out.
Beautiful spring pictures! You are lucky to have such a lovely place. Like the song too.
Diversifolius, thank you. I am indeed extremely lucky to have this beautiful place with beautiful mornings – the garden is a labor of love and the place I hope to live until I don’t.
I love that play and the song too. Your pics are beautiful. Thanks for the walk through your garden! Our snow is finally melted, but things aren’t coming alive just yet. Soon 🙂
FIrst things first, Paula – glad to hear the snow is melted – just think of how much nitrogen has been added to the soil by the snow! Won’t be long for you, probably a mad rush toward spring. I’m sure you will be SO ready for that – I’ll send green thoughts your way 🙂
I imagine a few springtime hours in the garden were a great source of comfort for you! … and thanks for sharing the images.
Yes indeed, Frank – my solution to cabin fever 🙂
Great multa midia post. Of course you know how fond I am of Oklahoma. I’ll listen to it in my garden right now, along with a turtle dove.
Oh, and you should sing too, Carol!
One of those really marvellous Hollywood productions with magic music throughout. When you put music on your posts and I get hooked, my visit becomes an extended one!
The flowers look lovely – strange how few of them grow in our area.
It was a wonderful production; Gordon McCrae is great as Curly – love his voice. Now I know how to keep you here longer 🙂
Oh, Lynn; your garden is stunning: what a paradise you’ve created and tended…the photos are just amazing. Thank you so much.
I grew up with Broadway tunes…mostly Rogers and Hammerstein, but certainly Sondheim, Lerner/Lowe and…obscure and famous others… (Like the musical Tenderloin, by George Abbott and Jerome Weidman, Sheldon Harnick, and Jerry Bock, the guys who later created Fiorello and won a Pulitzer. Loved it.) We were always listening to one album or another (such antique technology!), and I had to learn all the lyrics…Probably why my first degree was in theater! 🙂
This song (Gordon MacRae’s version) always blesses a day like this; I agree…I’ll sing alto, and our voices might meet somewhere over Ohio! 🙂 River trip today: no snow in sight and a temperature of 72…glorious!
Oh, I love his voice too, Kitty, especially when he sings that last line, “oh what a beautiful day” so sweetly; I’ve played this clip several times today 🙂 Fun to know that you have that background in musical theater. Guys and Dolls is probably my favorite but I don’t think there are any nature songs in there, except maybe “My Time Of Day” – another favorite.
The garden just keeps getting more beautiful; I still have hours of mulching to do but it is so pleasant to be outside, I don’t mind a bit! Enjoy your spring and I’ll listen for your voice singing too!
Love your garden images, they are gorgeous. Thanks for including the Oklahoma clip, it brings back memories. It was the first play or worked on as part of the crew.
Many thanks, Charlie – my brother sang in it in high school; holds a lot of memories for me too. Thanks for stopping by.
Very nice imagery, Lynn. Love that white tulip shot.
Thanks, Kerry; the morning light has been lovely the past few days.
The winner is the fern.
I agree, Tootlepedal, it has unfolded most poetically 🙂
What a beautiful day 🙂
Thank you!
I love this song! We used to sing it as children. Going through your fabulous photos coupled with the most delightful sounding names I can see why you burst into song! My heart is lifted just being here Lynn. Always a joy. Sharon
Sharon, so glad you enjoyed it! I love that song; one of my brothers played the role of Curly in Oklahoma! in high school and I have loved this song ever since. Thanks for visiting and commenting 🙂