Latest news with #Daffodils
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
A midsummer delight's dream
It's the month when even the Sun blushes green with envy. It's the season of Cannes, cricket and canary chandeliers. Come June, and it lights up our lives with golden 'chandeliers'. Chandeliers that screen us from the fierce June sun. Chandeliers that almost outshine the dazzle of the ripe summer sun. Amaltas, ahoy! What the golden Daffodils are to William Wordsworth, the Amaltas is perhaps to the desi poetic pen. Childhood meant growing up with different sort of sun screens in summer. Sun screens that had nothing to do with chemicals and commercials. Summers that had nothing to do with stocks and stocks of sun screens. Rather, summers that had everything to do with stalks and stalks of sun screens. Sun screens that had everything to do with Mother Nature's caps that were a canary yellow. Caps that boasted fashionable fascinators. Wispy, whispering fascinators of a pale leafy green or bough brownness. Fascinators that sometimes stuck their neck out like a dowager Duchess dripping diamonds. Fascinators that sometimes turned up their noses over the canary-coloured cap like a snooty senorita serenading the Cannes carpet. Childhood meant levitating on lean Lunas or puffing 'n' pedalling on Atlas cycles to convent campuses with Mother Nature's sun screens shading us along avenues of abundance in our 'City Beautiful'. Adulthood, alas, spelt a goodbye to Atlas cycles and much else, ushering in instead another sight on those avenues to compare with that canvas of canary. The canary canopies over the roads rivalled later by a different splash of yellow on the roads. The new-age Nano, driving in dressed in hell of a yellow. The nouveau Nano came nearest to resonating and strutting that signature goldenness of the Amaltas on the streets. Ah, not to forget the iconic 'peeli' Ambassadors, majestic predecessors to the humble Nano. The loud yellow Amby, a pop culture emblem, a sight so synonymous with the streets of Kolkata. The ample 'Ambys' indeed quite mirrored and matched the riot of yellow unfurled on the streets by summer's showstopper Amaltas. Childhood was made up of this jugalbandi of 'pop' palettes of parrot yellowness. Adulthood, alas, saw a passing into the attics of archival memory of the peeli Amby, as also the short-lived Nano. What endures on summer's canvas of canary is that canopied czar. Abiding, alluring Amaltas. Colours of Cannes Those street palettes now find a resonance more in IPL stadia. In the canary coloured jerseys of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). It's another story that the CSK fortunes resemble more those of Trump's torpedoed tariffs. Summer spells much colour for cinephiles, too. Literally and figuratively. It was a moment as golden as a summer sun dabbed with glitter blusher when Satyajit Ray's iconic film 'Aranyer Din Ratri', in its restored avatar, received a standing ovation at Cannes. Nothing could be more symbolic of summer's return to colour than this milestone moment. After the bloody palettes of early May, that resonated more the raging red of the Gulmohar, riding Operation Sindoor, midsummer has seen a 4K restoration of Ray's 1970 classic, an initiative led by Wes Anderson. Midsummer thus spells a return to all that is golden. Cinema. Canopies. Childhood memories. The curious case of 'All That Glitters Is (B)old Gold'. June heralds its own riot of colours that rule the streets to stadia chetnakeer@
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Daffodils mark 160 years of Welsh settlers in Patagonia
The descendants of Welsh immigrants who set sail to Argentina 160 years ago have planted 1,500 daffodils as a nod to their roots. About 150 immigrants travelled to Patagonia on a converted tea clipper ship from Liverpool to Puerto Madryn in 1865, a journey that took two months. They had set out to create a new colony where they could preserve their culture, language, and Protestant nonconformist religion, free from English influence. They established their own Welsh-speaking communities in Patagonia, a barren and inhospitable place at the time, and the language is still spoken in the area now. David Mardones, who helped to plant the bulbs, said it would help them to "reinforce Welsh culture" in the area. The idea came from David's aunt Peca Jones, a relative of the first Welsh settlers to arrive. It was funded by Welsh artists, Wrexham supporters groups and previous visitors to the area. The daffodil field will be located in the Trevelin area on Route 17 near Nant y Fall. David said the project had only been possible thanks to "all the Welsh people who united" behind it. It took two days for the three of them to plant the bulbs. "We didn't have any sort of machines or anything," said David. "Just a spade to dig these long trenches." The bulbs are set to bloom in October, at the start of the Argentinian spring. David has planned an official opening ceremony to commemorate the 160th anniversary with relatives of the Welsh settlers invited, along with the community and the local tourism secretary. "It's going to be a big event to thank everyone for the love and support for the project," said David. He added there were plans to plant more bulbs next year. "Hopefully we'll have a drilling machine by then because my back would thank me for it," he said. It is also hoped that the project will attract visitors when the daffodils bloom in October. Gwion Elis-Williams, who moved to Patagonia from Wales in 2016, said: "Hotels are booked up for miles around. "I'm sure we will see Welsh tourists visiting and coming to see the daffodils." Gwion and his partner Nia, who works at a local Welsh school, have seen the area grow dramatically over the years. "It's an up-and-coming sort of destination in terms of attracting visitors," he said. "Since we've been here, Trevelin has doubled in size in terms of population." Gwion said it was wonderful to meet people who are "enormously proud" of their Welsh heritage. Any bulbs not used were donated to Nia's school - Ysgol Y Com - where they will planted by the children. The daffodils, a symbol of identity and rebirth in Wales, are part of an initiative to highlight the cultural connection between the two regions. Pete Howell, who organised the fundraiser, said it was "important" for people to understand the link. "It's amazing to think the people went over all those years ago," he said. His job was to "get the ball rolling" to make sure they had enough bulbs. "Some of the donations were amazing. We were getting money from all over the place," he added. But the project would have gone nowhere without David's infection enthusiasm, according to Pete. "He was so willing to get going," he said. "If you get something in his head it's all systems go." Pete said he would love to go and visit the area in the future to witness the fruits of his labour. "To see that field full of daffodils. What a story that would be." "I'll try and save some pennies for it." More than 10,000 daffodils to be shown at festival Welsh settlers' moral Patagonia approach Hunt for rare daffodils that are feared lost
BBC News
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
Patagonia: Daffodils planted to mark Welsh settlers' anniversary
The descendants of Welsh immigrants who set sail to Argentina 160 years ago have planted 1,500 daffodils as a nod to their 150 immigrants travelled to Patagonia on a converted tea clipper ship from Liverpool to Puerto Madryn in 1865, a journey that took two had set out to create a new colony where they could preserve their culture, language, and Protestant nonconformist religion, free from English established their own Welsh-speaking communities in Patagonia, a barren and inhospitable place at the time, and the language is still spoken in the area now. David Mardones, who helped to plant the bulbs, said it would help them to "reinforce Welsh culture" in the area. The idea came from David's aunt Peca Jones, a relative of the first Welsh settlers to was funded by Welsh artists, Wrexham supporters groups and previous visitors to the daffodil field will be located in the Trevelin area on Route 17 near Nant y said the project had only been possible thanks to "all the Welsh people who united" behind it. It took two days for the three of them to plant the bulbs."We didn't have any sort of machines or anything," said David."Just a spade to dig these long trenches."The bulbs are set to bloom in October, at the start of the Argentinian has planned an official opening ceremony to commemorate the 160th anniversary with relatives of the Welsh settlers invited, along with the community and the local tourism secretary."It's going to be a big event to thank everyone for the love and support for the project," said added there were plans to plant more bulbs next year."Hopefully we'll have a drilling machine by then because my back would thank me for it," he said. It is also hoped that the project will attract visitors when the daffodils bloom in Elis-Williams, who moved to Patagonia from Wales in 2016, said: "Hotels are booked up for miles around."I'm sure we will see Welsh tourists visiting and coming to see the daffodils."Gwion and his partner Nia, who works at a local Welsh school, have seen the area grow dramatically over the years."It's an up-and-coming sort of destination in terms of attracting visitors," he said."Since we've been here, Trevelin has doubled in size in terms of population."Gwion said it was wonderful to meet people who are "enormously proud" of their Welsh bulbs not used were donated to Nia's school - Ysgol Y Com - where they will planted by the children. The daffodils, a symbol of identity and rebirth in Wales, are part of an initiative to highlight the cultural connection between the two Howell, who organised the fundraiser, said it was "important" for people to understand the link."It's amazing to think the people went over all those years ago," he job was to "get the ball rolling" to make sure they had enough bulbs."Some of the donations were amazing. We were getting money from all over the place," he added. But the project would have gone nowhere without David's infection enthusiasm, according to Pete."He was so willing to get going," he said."If you get something in his head it's all systems go."Pete said he would love to go and visit the area in the future to witness the fruits of his labour."To see that field full of daffodils. What a story that would be.""I'll try and save some pennies for it."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Daffodils mark 160 years of Welsh settlers in Patagonia
The descendants of Welsh immigrants who set sail to Argentina 160 years ago have planted 1,500 daffodils as a nod to their roots. About 150 immigrants travelled to Patagonia on a converted tea clipper ship from Liverpool to Puerto Madryn in 1865, a journey that took two months. They had set out to create a new colony where they could preserve their culture, language, and Protestant nonconformist religion, free from English influence. They established their own Welsh-speaking communities in Patagonia, a barren and inhospitable place at the time, and the language is still spoken in the area now. David Mardones, who helped to plant the bulbs, said it would help them to "reinforce Welsh culture" in the area. The idea came from David's aunt Peca Jones, a relative of the first Welsh settlers to arrive. It was funded by Welsh artists, Wrexham supporters groups and previous visitors to the area. The daffodil field will be located in the Trevelin area on Route 17 near Nant y Fall. David said the project had only been possible thanks to "all the Welsh people who united" behind it. It took two days for the three of them to plant the bulbs. "We didn't have any sort of machines or anything," said David. "Just a spade to dig these long trenches." The bulbs are set to bloom in October, at the start of the Argentinian spring. David has planned an official opening ceremony to commemorate the 160th anniversary with relatives of the Welsh settlers invited, along with the community and the local tourism secretary. "It's going to be a big event to thank everyone for the love and support for the project," said David. He added there were plans to plant more bulbs next year. "Hopefully we'll have a drilling machine by then because my back would thank me for it," he said. It is also hoped that the project will attract visitors when the daffodils bloom in October. Gwion Elis-Williams, who moved to Patagonia from Wales in 2016, said: "Hotels are booked up for miles around. "I'm sure we will see Welsh tourists visiting and coming to see the daffodils." Gwion and his partner Nia, who works at a local Welsh school, have seen the area grow dramatically over the years. "It's an up-and-coming sort of destination in terms of attracting visitors," he said. "Since we've been here, Trevelin has doubled in size in terms of population." Gwion said it was wonderful to meet people who are "enormously proud" of their Welsh heritage. Any bulbs not used were donated to Nia's school - Ysgol Y Com - where they will planted by the children. The daffodils, a symbol of identity and rebirth in Wales, are part of an initiative to highlight the cultural connection between the two regions. Pete Howell, who organised the fundraiser, said it was "important" for people to understand the link. "It's amazing to think the people went over all those years ago," he said. His job was to "get the ball rolling" to make sure they had enough bulbs. "Some of the donations were amazing. We were getting money from all over the place," he added. But the project would have gone nowhere without David's infection enthusiasm, according to Pete. "He was so willing to get going," he said. "If you get something in his head it's all systems go." Pete said he would love to go and visit the area in the future to witness the fruits of his labour. "To see that field full of daffodils. What a story that would be." "I'll try and save some pennies for it." More than 10,000 daffodils to be shown at festival Welsh settlers' moral Patagonia approach Hunt for rare daffodils that are feared lost
