April's Beauty - A host of Golden Daffodils!

April has flown by with such a mixture of weather! But that's spring in upstate NY.

She teased us with gloriously warm days for the first week or so, and then pushed us back to winter, with cold winds and even a little snow now and then to remind us that we are at the mercy of her whims.

There were a some mild, sunny days thrown in here and there, but this last week she's brought us winds straight from the Arctic and even a little snow.

Finally today she finished the month with a flourish - abundant sunshine and highs in the low 70's (approx. 22ºC) - wonderful!

I don't think I've ever enjoyed the spring garden more!

The daffodils have been pure delight.

Picture taken April 5th
The afternoon light is glorious!

April 19th

Hyacinths have joined the show.

And grape hyacinths/muscari are now adding their beautiful blue.

April 19th

The grass and hills are green and the trees are leafing out.

April 29th

The lawn has just had its second mowing.

Gorgeous blues and yellows!

Pink, white, and purple hyacinths,

and even a yellow one tucked back behind the poppies.

 Back on April 13th the Driveway Garden was bursting with daffodils.

And the Lilac Garden added those pretty whites to the mix.

Hannah is always exploring, chasing little critters and bugs.

  

A few days ago she cornered a vole, which was smartly dispatched - one less to eat my bulbs. They don't like daffodils and hyacinths, but they will eat tulips and crocuses, among other things.

I've never seen her sister, Molly, catch anything. She's very mild mannered and wouldn't hurt a fly. Well, maybe....I'll have to watch and see :)

The lovely blue Scilla/Siberian Squill are finished now.

I'm always sad to see their bright blue flowers fade away. They lasted about 3 weeks.

The cooler weather and some rain have prolonged the life of the daffodil blooms.

April 21st

We've enjoyed their sunny yellow faces for the entire month.

The first tulips opened about the 18th,

....Just as the first daffodils were finishing.

Three days later the Blue Heron Tulips opened their pretty fringed petals.

Now there are tulips galore adding their glorious colors, but I'll save those photos for the next post.

Murphy enjoying a bath in the late afternoon sunshine.


The daffodils always bring the following poem to mind, and consequently, my father, as this was one of his favorites. It's become a tradition for me to add it to a post full of golden daffodils.
I'm also reminded of my mother because she loved these flowers so much. My brother and I would bring her bouquets of them during springtime in Australia.

 

I  Wandered Lonely As A Cloud


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.


William Wordsworth