April 14, 2012

Be Still My Spring Heart

My gardener's heart is full this weekend. The first daffodils have bloomed in our backyard. This one is in ChloĆ©'s garden plot.  When the girls were young (two and six years old), I gave each of them a small portion of one of the back beds. They chose the spring bulbs and perennials to plant in their section.  Each May, they add annuals to fill in the gaps. It's been interesting to watch their colour choices and planting skills (with a bit of my help) evolve over the years.

And today the leaves on our beautiful Schubert tree (prunus virginiana) are opening! Am I crazy to be so excited every spring?  Things are happening outside of our yard too. The tiny forest behind the park that faces our street now has a soft, green haze--the promise of all of its beautiful leaves opening in the days ahead.

At an art course I took a few years ago, the teacher had us use jewelers' loupes (specialty magnifying glasses) to look at the inside of flowers. Have you ever had a close look? There's a little world inside of each of them.  This striped crocus seems to be harbouring a little tropical forest in its center.

In the photo below are three kinds of botanical tulips.  I love how they open well ahead of the hybridized tulips.  They are short and sweet and very cheerful.

The flowers below are scilla.  I'm not sure that anything could be more beautiful. Their waxy delicacy and that gorgeous periwinkle blue finds a way straight to my heart.  I have a painting sketched out in my studio that I need to start on, but I'm thinking that a painting of scilla may be next on my list.  I cannot stop looking at these photos.  I'll have to cut myself a little miniature bouquet for my studio.

Finally, here's a vagabond daffodil that made its way to just outside of Emma's flower bed. I like how a garden will talk to you and let you know where it would like to grow. 


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

May your hearts and thoughts this week be filled with daffodils (and scilla and crocuses and tulips and soft green spring leaves...).

8 comments:

  1. I love the way you describe flowers and spring-i can imagine those tulips on my feet at this very moment.

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    1. Thanks Perrine. That is a special compliment. ♥

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  2. Hi Kathleen, You are not crazy, I am feeling the same with spring and flowers; or maybe I am crazy too :)
    Your scillas are so pretty, this blue color is delightful !!! I can't wait to see your next painting....

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    1. Ah, so along with everything else, we share spring insanity too! xx

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  3. Oh oh SOOO beautiful! I've missed your gorgeous images whilst I've been MIA. I especially LOVE your French Twist post previously - you could be the clone of artist/calligrapher Joke Boudens (pronounced Yo-Ka). I will have to send you some images of her work. Both of you are incredible!

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    1. So nice that you are BIA. I missed you. Thank you so much for the lovely words and for your kindness in sending me samples of Joke Boudens work. Very inspiring.

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  4. Wonderfully uplifting post Kathleen, it does that to you, all those spring flowers. I love that looking in detail at the inside of the flower, they are amazing aren't they. My scilla have just gone, but my kitchen sink window looks out on them I really love their colour. Tulips just opening....Yippeeee!

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    1. It is such a wonderful time of year. :)

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Thanks so much for taking the time to visit my blog and to leave me a comment. I love reading them. -- Kathleen

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