Wordsworth's daffs.

In one of those synchronistic moments, I came across an article by Carol Klein about species daffodils in the March 2009 edition of Gardens illustrated magazine (lovely magazine, well worth hunting out). The kind of daffodil Wordsworth was describing is thought to be Narcissus pseudonarcissus, commonly called the Lent lily, as I guess it flowers during Lent in the Northern Hemisphere.

Camellia Barbara Clark in my Garden!

Camellia Barbara Clark in my Garden!
Originally uploaded by secret-garden-klunkerfrosch

See what I mean about triple Barbie-pink? Subtle she ain't.

Spring breaks

Yes, spring is here. Saw the first "real" daffodil today (as opposed to other composite narcissi - Sol d'Or, Earlicheer, jonquils). It's very cold and we here in Christchurch haven't seen the sun for days. Yesterday I put on my thickest thermals and finished pruning my Red Delicious apple. The magnolia buds are getting fatter and fatter and are so furry - it was worth buying the plant for the furry buds alone. Camellia "Barbara Clark" is out, such a bright pink, sort of a triple Barbie pink. Lots of violets, a few jonquils and snowdrops. And those big overstuffed hybrid primulas - they do look a bit much, but any colour is welcome at the moment. Hope we have some sun soon.

Y DAFFODIL CYNTAF

Y DAFFODIL CYNTAF
Originally uploaded by brynmeillion - JAN

Here's an interesting thought. Whenever someone recites the poem of Wordsworth's about the golden daffodils, I always see in my mind's eye a big clump of "KIng Alfred"'s in all their gaudy splendour. But I don't think "King Alfred" had been hybridized back in 1802, so what Wordsworth saw would probably be a wild native daffodil. I'll do a bit more research on this and find out.

Locked out

Just as well I acquired those plants when I did. Today a nice chain-link fence has gone up, and bulldozers and earth-strippers have gone in. Damn them, damn them. Plant murderers.

Blogger stats

Blogger have just added some new features. One is Blogger stats, which is great - they show you a map of where in the world you've been viewed. Where in the world is Lynwaho? The US, China, Indonesia and Poland. World domination at a glance.
What is Lynwaho? Its a mashup of my name and the Maori name for where I live, Opawaho. A pa is a fortified village and waho means means outlying or far-out, or far-off. So Lynwaho is Lyn far-out. Far out!
Getting some really mean spring weather now. Warm one minute, bitterly cold the next. The daffodils are pushing up and out though. I've just staged another raid/intervention on the development site, but I've ricked the muscles in my shoulders carrying shopping bags full of bulbs and earth. Being on someone's else's property made me feel deliciously wicked, just that wee kick of adrenaline, sure that some awful man will arrive in a dirty truck and ask me what I think I'm doing with his bulbs.

Secrets of the grown-up brain

This is the title of a wonderful book that I have been reading lately and recommending to all my older friends and colleagues. Written by Barbara Strauch, the sub-title is "the surprising talents of the middle-aged mind" and what a comfort it is. Yes, you may forget the name of your best friend's daughter or walk into the kitchen without remembering why you went there, but your middle-aged mind is actually functioning at the top of its life-time game. Strauch details new research that reveals that the middle-aged brain is about solutions rather than facts, and is synergistic rather than analytic, giving the lie to the widely held belief that a brain during midlife is simply a young brain closing down. The middle-aged brain is slower but better, able to make decisions based on complex variables rather than black-and-white factoids. Strauch reveals that mid-life crisis and empty nest syndrome are bunkum and that the brain can grow new cells. So there, all you young whippersnappers! I get so annoyed at those books labelled "for the over-fifties" as if the day after your fiftieth birthday, you suddenly turn into a brainless zombie with a head full of custard, incapable of functioning in your world and good only for drooling by the fire.