On a happy note, starts singing in verdant places (6)
I believe the answer is:
glades
'singing in verdant places' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both locations as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'on a happy note starts' is the wordplay.
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a happy' becomes 'glad' (I've seen this before).
'note' becomes 'e' (musical note).
'starts' becomes 's' (this could be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'glad' next to 'e' is 'glade'.
'glade'+'s'='GLADES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for glades that I've seen before include "Open spaces in forests" , "You can see the wood for the trees when you get into these" , "Clear tracts in the middle of woods" , "Open spaces in woods" , "Clear tracts in the middles of woods" .)