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Daffodils, Pomegranates and Wordsworth

DSC_0039I was feeling a little blue yesterday, so what better way to bring cheer than flowers. Yellow flowers really brighten a room, especially in the middle of January.  Further, nothing says “spring is coming!” like daffodils.

The small potted bulbs were an impulse purchase, but I bought them without remorse. (Okay I’m a bit remorseful that I left a Weight Watchers meeting and bought dark chocolate-covered pomegranate seeds, but it was the daffodils I went in for.)  I lost weight so why wouldn’t I celebrate with a bit of heart-healthy dark chocolate?

I digress.

Daffodils (narcissus) originated in Spain and Portugal, though it was Holland that perfected the bulb trade.  According to American Meadows  “over nine billion flower bulbs are produced each year in Holland, and about 7 billion of them are exported, for an export value of three-quarters of a billion dollars. According to the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center, the USA is the biggest importer of Dutch bulbs.”

I guess I’m not the only flower-lover making impulse purchases! William Wordsworth says it best:

And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

daffodilsDaffodils, by William Wordsworth

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 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.

24 thoughts on “Daffodils, Pomegranates and Wordsworth”

  3. Pingback: Daffodils…Just In Time « Putney Farm

  4. Sorry to hear you were feeling blue and glad you knew what to do about it! Lovely flowers. I didn’t know you were a Weightwatcher – me too. You look great by the way. Your poem made me look forward to my birthday in March as we usually go to Grasmere in the Lake District, home of the Wordsworth house museum. Enjoy the daffodils!

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    • It appears we have several things in common: love of gardening, uber-love of the Lake District and Weight Watchers. As they say, when you do the program, the program works. When you don’t…well! 😉

      I’m off to a very good start this year, so I just need to keep at it. I’m about 12 pounds from my goal.

      Have a terrific time in Grasmere. I wish I had gone to the museum when I was there many moons ago. One day…

      Thanks for commenting. It is so nice having you back in the blogging world.

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      • Hi Alys, I can’t believe you have lbs to go, you look so slim! I made my goal before Xmas but set my target at the top of the weight bracket. I still have a bit to go but am using the exercise bike…I’ll let you know the results. It is good to feel I’m doing something for my health anyway.
        So you have been to the Lake District?! I will take lots of photos next time I go to remind you. Have a happy day, Emma

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  6. How did I get so behind so quickly. (( Alys)) I’m sorry to hear you were blue this day, good for you for treating yourself. Congratulations on having a good week on WW. I will really have to buckle down if I’m going to wear any of my favourite summer dresses with any measure of comfort by May. I think I have been better this week, but not writing anything down. Are you following their new 360 program they are advertising? I have enjoyed this poem many times over the years and again today. Wonderful.

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    • I’m really behind too. January has been a full work month, in addition to the usual stuff. It’s nice to catch up today. Unfortunately it is also flu season, so Friday’s client was sick and rescheduled and tomorrow’s client as well. I’m getting a breather, but too bad at their expense.

      As for WW, I’m just doing what I’ve always done. Writing things down (or in my case etools) is always key to my success. It’s amazing how it gets away from you if you don’t.

      I’m glad you had a better week. We went out for a nice dinner with friends last night, but I didn’t drink wine and I shared my dessert with Mike. Ordered salad and a small pasta dish. It was so good.

      Then came home and tripped in the garage and hit my head. Ouch!

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      • Congrats on having a nice evening and still keeping to WW. We also ate out last night, but I brought more than half home, Pasta with a cream sauce, rich and filling. It was the one thing without beef, lamb, fish…I’m so fussy. Jim had desert and I just had a coffee. We did enjoy a great Napa wine called Tangly Oaks, a cab-sav. I would really recommend it.

        Shoot, hope you didn’t bump to hard…I can totally relate. My noggin gets knocked around way too much.

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  7. Pingback: The gladdest thing | Defeat Despair

  8. So happy to re-visit this post about my favorite flower! They are blooming today at both my homes and all around the area. How we need their cheery colors in the world right now!!

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  9. Pingback: The gladdest thing | Defeat Despair

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