Six years of blogging ... and daffodils

Six years ago, in late March 2009, when we traveled to Long Beach, California, to celebrate my birthday with our daughter who lived there at the time, I did not know that I would start a blog.  She encouraged me and designed the blog for me as I was not very computer savvy.  Little did I know that I would still be blogging years later and obtaining so much pleasure from it.

Through the blog I have made good friends - some I have met in person.  Some people have commented that my posts must take considerable time to write.  Most often they don't.  I write titles for each future post subject on a document - as I think about them and to avoid forgetting.  With one post title on every other line my document for future posts is now 8 pages long!  I won't run out of posts ideas for years and don't have time for blog memes or blog challenges.  For example I thought about writing the post on love locks in Paris in 2011 when I first noticed them on the Pont des Arts.  Then, as time passed, whenever I read something about love locks I would add it to my document.  When I finally wrote the post last month, I had accumulated 6 pages of notes and photos, so the post was written very quickly.  I remember most of my future post titles and if I find a postcard or a quotation which is appropriate I make a note of it for later use.

I enjoy reading comments and visiting friends' blogs.  I keep track of all the comments I receive and will eventually go on each blogger's blog to read their posts.  After reading all their past posts I'll write a comment on the latest post so as not to input lengthy comments.  There is such a diversity of blogs that I like to look at new ones and comment on some of them.  If after I have visited a new blog three times and left comments, the owner of the blog does not respond on their blog or come to mine at least once, I stop writing comments.  I feel that to be acknowledged by a blogger is like being invited into the community of that blog.  Just like at a party, if that new person you have been introduced to just says "hi" and walks away, it means that person is not interested in talking to you.  So the same applies to a new blog for me.  If that blog is super interesting, I may go back to it from time to time but won't ever comment again.  How do you handle this?

Most of my posts have been about my travels, old and new trips.  Here are 10 titles, taken at random, that are written on my document for future posts (not including posts about growing up in Paris, my youth there and my family in France) - Johann Strauss, Jr. house in Vienna, Jardin des Plantes in Paris, Return to St. Petersburg, Russia, The Port of Dubrovnik, Croatia, The Pink Lake in Senegal, Old Streets in Malta, Victorian Garden in Halifax, Nova Scotia, A German bakery in San Antonio, Texas, Visiting the Shawshank Redemption prison, and The Potemkin Steps in Odessa, Ukraine.  Sooner or later I'll write on each one of these subjects - but it may take me another six years!  For this post I'll write about something springy and fun - a pretty yellow flower announcing the end of winter.  I give you   the daffodil.

The Daffodil

"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 ...

Where, may you  ask, did I see this crowd of golden daffodils?  I saw them fluttering and dancing in the breeze in a beautiful garden in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountain this past Tuesday, March 24, 2015.  (Click on collage to enlarge.)

This garden is in Ball Ground, Georgia, about 1 hour north of our house.  It is called Gibbs Gardens after its founder and owner, Jim Gibbs, who after majoring in landscape architecture and horticulture became owner of the award-winning Gibbs Landscape Company in Smyrna, Georgia.  This is what Jim Gibbs says: "I started building Gibbs Gardens in 1980 but my dream of creating a world-class garden in the Atlanta area began many years earlier.  That dream took shape as I traveled all over the world visiting unique and amazing gardens.  Inspired by their beauty and the artistry of their designers, I spent more than 30 years designing and developing the Gardens creating 220 acres of landscaped gardens along spring-fed streams, ponds and lakes, surrounded by hillsides covered with mature woodlands.  With this magnificent scenery as my canvas, I've been committed to achieving a balance between natural and man-made elements to create "the harmony of nature" throughout  Gibbs Gardens."  Below is Mr. Gibbs and the entrance to the gardens.

Since 1987 millions of daffodil bulbs have been planted in Gibbs Gardens.  Now more than 20+ millions daffodil blossoms representing 60 varieties are blanketing 50-plus acres of rolling hills, fields and valleys.  For about 6 weeks early, mi and late-season varieties cover the gardens with blooms ranging from white to saffron including primrose-yellow, yellow, gold, orange and pink.  The American Daffodil Society believes that these gardens have the largest display of daffodils in the US.

In addition, Gibbs Gardens offer 16 designed garden venues, including 40 acres of Japanese Gardens, seven flowering terraces covering 150 feet elevation from the Tudor-style mansion, Arbor Crest Manor House, to the valley, and 10 miles of walking and running paths.  A tram took us to "Daffodil Hills" and from there we walked up and down the path to the Manor House.

Below are maps of the Manor House and gardens, and the Valley Gardens (click on collage to see better.)

The weather was warm (73+ F/23 C) and dry with a light wind.  It was hard not to stop every few steps to take pictures of this great panorama of golden daffodils.  We passed by other flowers too - camellias, and flowering bushes.

We stopped and sat on a bench facing the Fish Pool and Waterfall.

Several stone sculptures were placed among the flowers and shrubs.

We arrived at the terraced gardens around the Manor House and were greeted by a spectacular flowering tulip tree.

At the Cabana and Pool more little waterfalls were flowing into the pool.

A multitude of bright pansies brought splashes of colors.

We sat on rocking chairs for a while, watching Mount Oglethorpe facing us.  A hawk was flying in the distance.

Then we walked around the house, getting glimpses of the interior,

and going toward the sculpture of a child and cat.

Walking downhill we passed by more daffodils, flowering trees and sculptures.

I had brought three cameras with me and wish I could show all the photos I took.  Passing the bear statue we kept going down toward the Japanese Gardens.

The formal Japanese Gardens are best viewed during fall colors with all their brilliant maples.  The gardens cover 40 acres and have seven spring-fed ponds as well as 40 handcrafted Japanese lanterns.  Gibbs Gardens gives a calendar that shows what is blooming each month.  They sell daffodil bulbs as well.

Gibbs Gardens are colorful every season with the Fern Dell, the azaleas, rhododendrons, roses, holly and crape myrtles, cherry blossoms, dogwoods and all the wildflowers.  Below are seasonal views of the gardens, courtesy Gibbs Gardens.

The Monet Water Lily Gardens feature 140 varieties of unique lilies.  In summer the Japanese Bridge - an exact replica of Monet's Garden arched teal bridge in Giverny (near Paris) is covered with wisteria - you can see it in the collage above.  In the spring, the Monet Garden is still lovely bordered by daffodils, or "jonquilles" to use the French word.

Passing by Monet's bridge we walked across several little wood bridges.  There were still many daffodils blooming all around us, flowering trees, sculptures, ponds and more.

We were now back to the gardens entrance but saw that a last tram was leaving to ride to the top of the hill offering views of the North Georgia Mountains.  We jumped on it to get a last glimpse of all the daffodil blossoms covering meadows and hills.

Reluctantly walking to our car, we stopped one last time over the entrance bridge to take a final look at the brook, the pansies and more daffodils.

This had been a feast for the eyes and the senses.  I wished I could take loads of daffodils home, but they will have to stay in my memory.

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, 1770-1850

Painted by Ludmila Skripchenko, artist from Yalta, Ukraine