For a cheering pick-me-up after a prolonged period of winter ‘blues’, come out into the garden and see what it’s been up to in the cold weather. 

I don’t know about you, but after the past few months of winter and some rather trying circumstances I’m ready for some ‘jockunditie of minde’ for an ‘over-wearied spirit’,  something a garden can supply in good measure!

The Dancing Daffodils

 A good place to start is with the Wordsworths and the daffodils. Dorothy Wordsworth’s diary  comments on that special moment when, after a wild and windy Maundy Thursday walk over the hills in 1802 with her brother William, they saw those famous daffodils by the lakeside at Ullswater. She writes that

“they tossed and reeled and seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind that blew upon them over the lake, ever glancing, ever changing “

As we all know, later William wrote those famous words in his oft quoted poem:  

“A host of golden daffodils……….And then my heart with pleasure fills and dances with the daffodils.”

We have had daffodils dancing since the end of November cheering us with their patches of bright yellow sunshine in a cold winter garden – John Clare’s ‘Sweet earthly suns of spring’. On frosty nights the flowers are prostrate on the grass is if killed by the frost, but by the morning with a rise in temperature they stand up erect again. Where would our gardens be without these dependable stalwarts?

 In the garden yellow always lifts the spirits and the sunshine always radiates from a yellow planting – just the cheering tonic for a cold winter or early spring day.

February was the crocus month. These lovely Crocus tommasinianus, busily trying to take over our front lawn, are a midwinter delight. You have to smile when you see them basking in the sunshine revealing their charm and beauty. Their colour complements and goes so well with the daffodils – a perfect pairing. The books say these can be invasive, but who cares when they bring such a wonderfully welcome invasion!

“All nature seems at work. Slugs leave their layer, the bees are stirring, the birds are singing and winter slumbering in the open air wears on his smiling face a dream of spring! And I, the while, the sole unbusy thing, no honey make, nor pair, nor bud, nor sing .”              

from ‘Work Without Hope.’ by S.T.Coleridge

The music has started. The garden is on the move again and full of promise. It’s time for us gardeners to join in the dance. There’s sowing and planting to do and outside the spring countryside beckons.

Do begin to enjoy your garden if you have one.