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 dance, 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.
 - William Wordsworth

This poem has always been one of my favourites. I still recall memorizing it in school so many years ago and the images it evoked even then. I suppose every child was introduced to it in those days just as I was. I wonder  if it made as significant an impression on them as it did on me ? Perhaps that is why I love daffodils  and the bright cheery promise they always seem to bring with them each year as spring arrives. Their fragile petals softly trembling in the breeze are like shy children  timidly hanging their heads  before you.

This year spring does seem to have arrived quite early. Already the outdoors is taking on the garments of springtime as the trees take on a gentle mantle of green with buds beginning to unfurl and hasten their task of covering the  stark  bare branches of winter.  The warmth of the  sun is  like that of a summer day.  Tiny plants peek through the earth as if not sure what to expect. It is,after all, only mid April. But the plants are pleasantly surprised as I am each day  upon finding  that spring appears to be as anxious as I am  to celebrate the season. 

I certainly am not complaining ... in fact I am co-operating just as the plants appear to be doing as they welcome the sun and reach toward its warming rays. For my part ... I am spending every available moment  assisting them  by making their  habitat as amenable as I possibly can. Most of this past week I have spent the better part of each day  weeding and cultivating  each flower bed, and I might add, enjoying every single second of the task. My muscles and joints may not agree as they have shown their displeasure at times but over all it has been a productive week. And the yard and gardens look as if it was mid May !

Although tempted  to go one step further and begin planting to put more of my imprint on the gardens  as I plan to do this year I have managed to restrain my eagerness and allowed common sense to prevail. It is after all still much too early to not expect  falling temperatures and winter's last farewell. Having only moved into this home in  mid summer of last  year there is still much to be done in the transforming the gardens and making them truly ours. Weeell, almost.... I have planted a few more perennials already. After all, they are hardy souls and with care should survive even given  the sometimes harshness of our climate.

There have been more changes around here lately  which have also brightened our days  but to read about them you will have to check out Petey's Nook as those changes belong to him and that news will be found there. Petey and I should have those updates done in the next day or so. Unless of course the weather is just too nice to stay inside and I choose to go play in the dirt again !

I admit I have used these wonderfully springlike days  as an escape from reality for although the work was difficult and at times very tiring  it  has allowed me to concentrate on nature and the blessings she provides instead of the horrendous news bombarding us this days. You do not find man's inhumanity  in a garden thank goodness ... only nature's blessings reminding  that  there is hope and optimism  and new life just around the corner. Of course it takes toil and we must do the planting after carefully preparing the earth to receive those tiny seedlings but the rewards are well worth the effort expended. We would all do well to remember that lesson of nature in the days to come as so much hatred and enmity abounds in this tired old world around us. If only it were as easy to rid ourselves  of those failings in human  beings as it is to eradicate weeds from a garden !

Give my suggestion a try  ... I promise its easy to  bury your troubles  at least for a while if you go dig in the garden.  I even have fun exposing the dew worms   as I cultivate the earth knowing I am making the job easier for  the  robins who share our yard. We have a large contingent of those happy little creatures who appear to have taken up residence in the trees and bushes around the yard. I am so pleased they have chosen to make their homes with us because I think maybe the following just might be true ...