A Splash of Yellow: Daffodils on Nantucket

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From early April to mid-May, Nantucket bursts into bloom with millions of daffodils across the island  To celebrate, the island throws itself a party:  its annual Daffodil Festival!

 

This year, the festival takes place from April 26 to 28.  More than just a weekend of flowers, islanders enjoy an antique car parade and tailgate picnic, art shows, a Daffy Hat contest, contests and lectures.  It’s a beautiful time to be on the island:  my husband, Frank, and I never miss it!

 

The splashes of yellow from coast to coast are pure inspiration after a long colorless winter.  Think about the ways you might use yellow to enliven your home and lift your springtime spirits.  Of course, bringing bouquets of fresh flowers inside is a pretty touch in any room.

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Touches of yellow are also playful and bright when used in fabrics and upholstered furniture.  A small dash of yellow can go a long way.  In the photo below, yellow is used in the plaid upholstery fabric and in the trim on the ottoman.

touch of yellow

This month, celebrate the yellow in your life, wherever you find it!

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Daffodils and Earth Day!

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Where can you go to see three million daffodils in bloom, along with a parade, an antique car show, and breathtaking vistas of sea and sand?  Nantucket Island celebrates its Annual Daffodil Festival this year on April 27 to 29th.  Everyone on the island participates in this joyful extravaganza; gardens and shop windows are full of yellow blossoms, islanders (human and canine) are decked out in daffodils, and there’s even an Daffodil Tailgate Picnic, with gourmet cuisine served on fine china or in box lunches.

My husband Frank and I, along with our three bichon frises, Ellie, Tuffy and G.G., never miss it.  (For a brief history of the festival and photos of previous year’s fun, see last year’s blog post.)

The event began in 1974 when the late Jean MacAusland (former island resident and publisher of Gourmet Magazine) persuaded the Nantucket Garden Society to sponsor a daffodil show on the island.  The goal of planting over one million daffodil bulbs has long been surpassed, and what a show it is!

Hope to see you there!

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This year, Earth Day is Sunday, April 22nd, and the theme is A Billion Acts of Green!  The Earth Day Network’s goal is to grow environmental awareness around the world through civic engagement and environmental education.  More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day events in 192 countries, making it the largest civic observance in the world.   For Earth Day 2012, the Earth Day Network hopes to register one billion separate Acts of Green, everything from a pledge to plant a garden, use non-toxic cleaning supplies, or eat more local food.  It’s easy to do:  sign up here.