April and the "Mistress of Merry Mount"

April and the "Mistress of Merry Mount"

April is in my mistress' face,

And July in her eyes hath place;

Within her bosom is September,

[And] in her heart a [warm] December.

                           -Livio Celiano [abridged by CPW]

I remember vividly the first time I gazed into the April countenance of the lady who became the "Mistress of Merry Mount".  It was shortly after this photo was taken and I was smitten.  Forty three years later, I still am enchanted by this face of April.

July in her eyes hath place: the "Mistress of Merry Mount" identifies with July-for the full flowering of her work and skills as a Master Gardener blooms forth.

Within her bosom is September:   The spaciousness of her heart is like the bounty of September.  She embraces the creatures of Merry Mount:

[And] in her heart a [warm] December:  But the warmest place in her heart is reserved for her dear friends and family.

For the "Mistress of Merry Mount" is indeed the "Matriarch of Merry Mount":

Always Marry an April Girl

Praise the spells and bless the charms,

I found April in my arms.

April golden, April cloudy,

Gracious, cruel, tender, rowdy;

April soft in flowered languor,

April cold with sudden anger,

Ever changing, ever true --

I love April, I love you.

              -Ogden Nash

 

CPW (some photos courtesy of Vivi: myfriendboughtafarm.blogspot.com)