Because I know that you are a cultured bunch and because you probably won’t have time to stop and smell the roses for the next couple of weeks, I call William Wordsworth to my aide to help usher in spring. He, daffodils mostly spent by the end of April, turns to the Lesser Celandine for his inspiration and to feed his yellow fetish.

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To The Small Celandine

Pansies, lilies, kingcups, daisies,

Let them live upon their praises;

Long as there’s a sun that sets,

Primroses will have their glory;

Long as there are violets,

They will have a place in story;

There’s a flower that shall be mine,

‘Tis the little Celandine

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Wordsworth wrote 3 poems for the spring flower and the first verse of two of them are shown here.

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The Lesser Celandine

There is a flower, the Lesser Celandine,

That shrinks, like many more, from cold and rain;

And, the first moment that the sun may shine,

Bright as the sun himself, ’tis out again!

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Written by Redgannet
Redgannet worked for more than 35 years as a flight attendant for an international airline. He came to birding late in his career but, considering the distractions, doesn't regret the missed opportunities. He was paid to visit six continents and took full advantage of the chance to bird the world. He adopted the nom de blog, Redgannet, to avoid remonstrations from his overbearing employer, but secretly hoped that the air of mystery would make him more attractive to women. Now grounded, he is looking forward to seeing the seasons turn from a fixed point.