Whether you call them jonquils, narcissus, or daffodils, you are sure to be delighted by this wonderful burst of yellow in a previously brown landscape. As we see from Wordsworth's words, a "crowd of golden daffodills" can inspire us and delight us ...even when wand'ring lonely as a cloud or lying upon our couch. These cheerful yellow flowers with heads raised toward the sun or bowing with their weight towared the earth can bring such joy. They are one of the very first sights and signs of spring, and with their appearance comes the renewed assurance that life is renewing itself once again after the cold, gray winter months.

Robert Herrick's words from "To Daffodils" echo our feelings about daffodils and spring:

FAIR Daffodills, we weep to see
You haste away so soon:
As yet the early-rising Sun
Has not attained his Noon.

Stay, stay,
Until the hasting day
Has run
But to the Even-song;
And, having prayed together, we
Will go with you along.

We wish for the lovely daffodils, along with all the other lovely things about spring, to "stay, stay" much longer than they do. The buttery yellow Lady Banks rose blooms all too briefly, and then as quickly as the blooms arrived they scattered like snow over the ground under her branches. The dogwood trees unfurl their petals until they are as full and white as a snow covered cottage. And then, in a moment it seems, they are encased in green. The pinks of camellias dot the green landscape with their beautiful blossoms, and before you know it, the blossoms are faded and the landscape is once again green. And so it is with the daffodils, here today and gone tomorrow. But what a show they do put on while it lasts.

So we must enjoy the radiance of their colors while they are with us. The yellow beauties come in brilliant tones, soft buttery tones, and even whites to dazzle us for a few weeks. And once again we know that as the earth renews itself, life does so as well.