MANSFIELD — Organizers said the weather Saturday morning was fitting — a chilly 42 degrees, overcast and rainy.
That’s because when Mansfield in Bloom planted 17,000 daffodil bulbs last October throughout the city, finishing just before the first snowfall, there was not a single day with warm temperatures and sunshine.
Regardless of the weather, those bright, yellow “flowers of hope” have bloomed and were on full display Saturday morning for the “Dazzle with Daffodils” event at the Mansfield Central Park Gazebo.
The event is a partnership with Mansfield In Bloom, the RCDG ArtSector, Green Room Gallery, and Mankind Murals. It includes artwork created by 23 local artists, inspired by daffodils and life in Mansfield.
Dazzle Committee chair Dalton Derr, kicked off the two-phase event by reciting the poem, “Daffodils,” by William Wordsworth.
Also known as, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” the poem was inspired by an event in April 1802 in which Wadsworth and his sister, Dorothy, came across a “long belt” of daffodils. It was written between 1804 and 1807 and was his most famous work.
It includes:
“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.”
“This event is to offer a special thanks to all the volunteers and supporters for their help in planting thousands of daffodil bulbs in the 87 beds and planters,” Derr said.
“This project would not have been possible without the hard work of all of our volunteers, dedication of our donors and sponsors and the talent of our local artists,”” he said.
His wife, Janeen, the Dazzle co-chair, added special thanks to students from Mansfield City Schools, who helped to make the first-time project a success.
Jim Kulig, a member of Mansfield in Bloom, thanked Derr for his work.
“You have taken an idea and made it very special,” Kulig said.
Daffodils were planted in many locations, including parks, businesses, churches, schools, city and county buildings and more.
The original artwork was recreated on outdoor medium and was on display in Central Park. The Green Room Gallery was later opened for visitors to come in and experience the original art pieces that will be around the Square and artwork of other local artists.
Participating artists include: Jody Odom Sr with “New Season,” Crystal Stokes “Waters of the Deep,”, Ruthie Akuchie “Yellow Field,” Braxton Daniells “The Mill,” Robin Morfey “Garden,” Heather Marks “Daffodil,” Neil Yoder “The Burning Moon,” Samantha Schneider “Dance of the Wind,” Brandon Penny “Friendship Blooms,” James Fleeson “Game at the Park,” Clare Boggs “New Spring,” Robin Shoup-Wilson “Black Butterfly,” artists from Element of Art with a college, and a collage of 11 artwork pieces by seventh- and eighth-grade students from Mansfield City Schools.
Local musicians were planned Saturday afternoon, including Jillia Caudill, Aurelio Diaz, the American Collective and Atohi Sayja Nelson. Trucking Trav’s Food Truck was to offer a variety of items.
Organizers said the event was made possible through donations and sponsorships from the John P. Gross Family Fund of the Richland County Foundation; Carl and Annamarie Fernyak Fund of the Richland County Foundation; Mechanics Bank; NECIC; Sue Gentelle; Tara’s Floral Expressions, Dave and Leslie Eichinger; and many dedicated community volunteers.
