Some people say that the daffodil is the harbinger of springtime. Shaped like a trumpet, it announces to the other plants and flowers that spring has arrived!
This year’s vernal equinox marked the beginning of the earliest spring in the United States in the past 124 years, and also the most unusual spring in our lifetimes. On March 20th, the sun appeared to rise exactly east and to set exactly west in Nantucket, and night and day were equal. Since then, the days have grown longer, the sun has glowed brighter (between the showers that April brought), the birds have sung louder and the earth busied itself nurturing glorious new life. As we enter May more secluded than all of the previous Mays I have known, I have become acutely aware of the rebirth that spring embodies. The early morning wake up calls of the beautiful cardinals, chickadees, and red breasted robins start each lengthening day off with the purest of songs. Each sunrise is a new beginning. Each bud a miracle, each flower a gift. Rain or shine, the offerings of a spring day provide a wonderful reminder of all the hopefulness and beauty that exists in our world and on our island 26 miles out to sea. And each signifies a healing and new beginning.
As some of you may know this past weekend
would have been Nantucket’s 46th annual Chamber of Commerce
Daffodil Festival. Due to the current COVID situation, the regular Daffodil
festivities were postponed. That didn’t
stop the spirit of Nantucketers though!
On
Facebook, #dailydaffodil had members posting photos of daffodils every day in
the month of April for folks far and wide to enjoy. The Chamber set up on Instagram the hashtag
#ACKDaffy, and tag @ACKChamber. People
posted photos of the event from past years. Many held picnics in their yards,
decorated hats with glorious, imaginative designs. The NISHA Daffy Dog Parade even went ahead virtually
with pets sporting their best daffy attire.
Every
week from April 9-April 30, The
Inquirer and Mirror ran a Virtual Daffodil festival, featuring stories of
the history of the festival, of how to hold your own backyard daffodil picnic (with
recipes by Sarah
Chase), and of how to pick, preserve and place your own daffodils in a
beautiful arrangement. And between the
local news and the miracle of social media, everyone world-wide was able to
partake in the ebullient spirit of this beloved event that has for almost 50
years marked the real start our island season.
Although
we were not able to share all the Daffy-delights with you in person, it is heartwarming to watch the island awaken and the people who love Nantucket
come together in person and virtually, with spirits uplifted, to celebrate life,
friendship, nature and springtime. While
we are facing an unknown, we find our joy where we can, and there is a spring
in our step as we honor our traditions.
Seneca
said that “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” We look forward to a sweet, post-COVID era
when it is once again safe to welcome you to our shores and through our doors. You are the reason we became innkeepers. We enjoy your company, your stories, your
ability to lift our hearts just by being here.
Until we meet in person again, we will continue to reach out to you
virtually, to remind you of the beauty that is Nantucket, and that you are a
major part of what makes it a place to love!
Be
well, stay safe, stay in touch (albeit from a distance), and Happy Mother's Day!
Searching for a Mother's Day gift idea? Martin House Inn gift certificates, when purchased in the Month of May 2020, will receive a 15% discount on future stays.*
*Cannot be combined with other offers. Not available for holiday or special events.
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