Wednesday 7 February 2024

Daffodils – Day 5

 

Daffodils – Day 5


I don’t know what happened with the numbering system – Days 3 and 4 were confused and so was I, apparently. Anyway, this is Day 5!

I need not have worried that the daffodils would fail to open. 

 Today’s poem is called ‘My Daffodils’ and was written by the American poet Arthur Goodenough (1871-1936)

When April thrills the wakening hills,

The sunshine on their summits spills

The charm divine of amber wine –

Then come the darling daffodils –

The darling, darling daffodils!

 

While winter chills yet rarely kills,

And slowly yet the Dream fulfils,

In mist and rain they come again,

The dainty, dancing daffodils –

The dream-descended daffodils.

 

When vapor crawls and mountain walls

Give back the cuckoo’s ringing calls,

Old friends and dear they reappear,

The dauntless, dainty daffodils,

The hope-inspiring daffodils!

 

Before the swallow wings his flight,

Or frosts have ceased to blast and blight,

With rapture fine their faces shine;

The bliss-begotten daffodils,

The bliss-bestowing daffodils.

National Trust Cotehele in Cornwall has a unique collection of heritage daffodils, including 19th century hybrids, the descendants of the once-thriving flower industry in the valley of the River Tamar. The ‘Little Gardens’, as the fields were known locally, were farmed by generations of families, sending flowers and fresh produce by rail to the large city markets. After WWII the industry declined and the fields were no longer tended.  Discarded daffodil bulbs were thrown away but continued to flower unnoticed for years.

Volunteers at Cotehele collected many of the rare daffodils and a local grower added old ‘historic’ bulbs from his collection. These flowers have been catalogued and are established and protected in the Cotehele gardens.

23 comments:

  1. They are so pretty. I wonder just how many daffodil poems there are?

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    Replies
    1. I haven't found very many from recognised poets - there are probably thousands from amateurs which will never be read.

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  2. The bliss-begotten daffodils,
    The bliss-bestowing daffodils .. . once they open!
    Especially in places that are very chilly in winter



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    Replies
    1. It's a long wait for spring in some places!

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  3. Now I understand my confusion yesterday, added to the fact I ran out of time the day before to read your daily post.
    It seems dear daffs have inspired rather a lot of poetry.

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    Replies
    1. It's senility knocking on the door - mine, not yours.

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  4. HeHe! Hope these 'evil' things are dead and buried
    by Friday....
    But! But! I did find this...(top link)..

    https://homespunhaints.com/what-daffodils-symbolize

    ✨💛✨💛✨💛✨💛✨💛✨ ✨💛✨💛✨💛✨

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  5. Fortunately I have an appointment with the eye doctor, because to me the daffodils and the Narcisses look the same (and they are, just looked it up) The name of the Author is hilarious, Good enough, lol

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  6. There aren't as many as I would have thought, but perhaps I'm not looking in the right places!

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  7. It's interesting to think about surnames and how they came about.

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  8. And very lovely they are too x
    Alison in Wales x

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  9. I'm almost as excited to see your pictures as I would be watching this wonder unfold on my own kitchen table. Spring is coming!

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  10. A beautiful poem and another post full of interesting daffodil facts! xxx

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  11. So pretty! Daffodils mean spring is on the way!

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  12. I never tire of beautiful daffodils :)

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  13. Beautiful. Daffodils definitely signify spring to me. Love the photos

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