Fluttering and dancing in the breeze

The words in my title are not by me, but by the English poet William Wordsworth. When I look at the daffodils in my garden, and think of the poem, I can see that Wordsworth did a good job. He captured the way daffodils move in the breeze, beautifully.  They have their heads down, away from the wind, and they sway, like they are dancing. They have a certain elegance too, with their long and slender stems. 

Daffodils make excellent cut flowers. Before you combine them with other flowers, I advise you to put them in the water separately, for about 24 hours. The juice the plant exudes, won't poison the other flowers any more.

But of all the qualities Daffodils have, to me, the most important one is the happiness they bring. With their cheerful ruffled cups, the only thing you can do is love them.

Next week I will take you to my garden once more, to give you an update on the spring cleaning we did, in and around the garden house, and to show you the flowers that are in bloom. Some tulips are ready to open up, so with a bit of luck.......

Have a good week.

Love,

Madelief x

I wander'd 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 stretch'd 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 waves in glee: -
A poet could not but be 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.

Spring in the garden fair

“And the Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.” 

Percy Bysshe Shelley


Despite the occasional shower, it was a perfect day for working in the garden. I did not do much.  I got rid of the last autumn leaves and weeds in the middle part of the garden, cleaned the garden furniture, and took lots of photo's of the pretty bunch of Hellebores I cut.

The Hellebore is such a rewarding flower. It has been in bloom for several weeks now. Although seed heads appear, the flowers still brighten up the front part of the garden under the hazel tree, which is partly covered in shade.

I added a few cherry- and hazel branches to the bouquet. It looks really sweet, with the tiny pink flowers of the blossoms, and the small buds on the hazel branches ready to open up to spring.

Wishing you a Happy week!

Love

Madelief x 

* The photo of the geese and heron was taken behind my garden house. There is a stream running along the back of my garden.

Just So!

Whenever I can't sleep at night and I look out of my window into the darkness, such beautiful words as Jungle book author Rudyard Kipling once wrote, never come to my mind :-) 



“At two o'clock in the morning, if you open your window and listen,
You will hear the feet of the Wind that is going to call the sun.
And the trees in the Shadow rustle and the trees in the moonlight glisten,
And though it is deep, dark night, you feel that the night is done.” 

Somehow the words give me comfort.
 

I am taking you to Bateman's, the 17th century house and garden in East Sussex, where the author and poet once used to live. Many of his stories and poems were written here.

My daughters and I enjoyed our walk in the garden. We sniffed the roses, had lunch on the grass near the pond and played frisbee on the lawn. We liked the house with it's oak beams, mullioned windows and dark interior. You take a huge step back in time, when you cross the threshold.

We still remember the colourful stories the enthusiastic volunteers told us. My middle daughter, who studies cultural heritage, was explained how to preserve leather wallpaper, while I listened to the story about the father of one of the volunteers, who had been a pilot during the Battle of Britain and was shot down in his aeroplane twice (and survived). It's not only the images you take home with you afterwards, but the people and the stories they have to tell as well. Just So :-)

If you are interested in visiting the house. Please have a look at the website of the National Trust.


Have a great week!

Love,

Madelief x