Tuesday, April 15, 2008

April Bloom Day: Dancing Daffodils




I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils:
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee:
A poet could not be but gay,

In such a jocund company!
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
----William Wordsworth

I've always loved this poem, and although I don't have a "host" of daffodils, they do fill my heart with pleasure, as Wordsworth says. I always liked Wordsworth's poems, but I've grown to love them even more the last few years. Wordsworth saw the divine in nature and felt that man was a better person by enjoying and contemplating nature. As a gardener, what more perfect inspiration could you ask for?


My spring bulbs are all late-flowering ones--still no tulips--but besides the daffodils, I do have some hyacinths blooming. As you can see (and will see later in the season), I am partial to purple.


Happy Garden Bloom Day to everyone!
By the next Bloom day, we will all probably be showing a riot of color.


( Footnote: Thank you to someone, I think it is Mary, who had a note in her profile about her camera always being in macromode. Out of curiosity, I actually read my camera manual before taking these pictures.)

9 comments:

  1. Hi Rose
    Glad you're back. Lovely photos, and also one of my favourite poems. Our daffs are over now and the hyacenths too. The tulips are up and hopefully will open today as the sun is out.
    Oh I nearly forgot, I've tagged you! I hope you don't mind. Come and get it at my place.

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  2. Rose, I love the quote! You can always find just the right one for the occasion. Your pictures are wonderful. Makes me wonder about my camera's settings. Will have to get with you about that. Such a pretty post!

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  3. William Wordsworth, one of my favourite poets. Daffodils such a beautiful poem. My daughter put the line "I wandered lonely as a cloud" as art work on her bedroom wall. It was quite meaningful at the time. You evoked a memory.

    Lovely blooms, you are getting there Rose. Tulips next.
    Congrats on your award by the way, much deserved.

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  4. Rose .. mine are also late bloomers as well .. it has been a long winter and we are just beginning to catch up .. and .. I bought another Korean Rock fern today .. I couldn't help myself .. now I have to find the perfect places for them !
    Joy

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  5. Thanks for visiting, everyone. I'm glad you all liked the Wordsworth poem. I have been waiting for my daffodils to come up so I could use it. Who knew it would turn out to be Bloom day, too?

    I just checked Carol's blog at May Dreams and noticed she has 71 comments. That will keep her busy for awhile making a list of all the posts!

    By the way, for everyone who read my last post, the muse is back. I think she just went off for a long nap. But with the beautiful weather we're having right now, I may spend more time outside than on the computer.

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  6. Rose, what a wonderful poem to go with your post about daffodils. Very fitting! Thanks for joining in again.

    Carol, May Dreams Gardens

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  7. Carol, Thanks for stopping by. But I don't know how you will have the time to check back and see this thank you with all that you have done today. Amazing! Thank you for inspiring us all to show our blooms!

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  8. One of my favorite poems also, Rose. A lovely post ... see what a sunny day does for our spirits!

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  9. Hi again Rose, thanks for visiting me. I just had to reply to your comment; please don't worry about the meme thing (no idea what meme stands for!) I would hate you to feel under pressure, it really doesn't matter if you never do it!

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