This is the earliest I've known of this old-fashioned variety to bloom. That usually occurs in early February, earlier than the large hybrid varieties. Perhaps it's because they're the first to open is why they are my favorites. They feature small blooms but are very fragrant.
This is the daffodil, or "buttercup," that is seen growing on sites where houses once stood but now are gone. The trees and the daffodils are the only reminders of the houses that once were there.
You also see them in fields and pasture lands and imagine that once, a very long time ago, they adorned a farmer's wife's front garden. The houses and people long gone but the flowers live on.
In these fields, farmers' plows have scattered them over the years and they grow with reckless abandon. I know a few secret places where they grow -- in one place covering a large hillside -- and when you go see them it almost takes your breath away.
I went there one year and dug a few and transplanted them into my own landscape. Maybe I'll go for more this year.
The daffodil is probably my favorite of all flowers and sometimes I daydream of having as many in the picture below.
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| freetiiupixscnry |
Sunny, cheerful, harbinger of spring. What's not to like in a daffodil?
Wow, I never realised that buttercups were actually daffodils! Now I feel like the dill..
ReplyDeleteSo many poetic and song references, and I always imagined some other yellow cold-climate flower was the buttercup. Daffodils are almost impossible to grow here, and certainly not in large fields like your gorgeous photos. Only once have I been in England in February/March and seen them growing wild everywhere - it was glorious!
Patricia, calling daffodils buttercups is actually inaccurate, although that is what they've always been called around here by old timers. Buttercups are a different flower -- the common name for Ranunculus (which by the way doesn't grow here in the South well at all). Sorry for the confusion. I should have pointed out in the post that here, daffodils are called buttercups incorrectly. Thanks for allowing me to elaborate.
DeleteThank you Sanda - now I understand. We do have ranunculus here, although I have never successfully grown them. Their shape is much more cup-like, so I shall remember this!
DeleteIn January? Gosh, the few we have " wild " ( left by the previous owner of our place ) appear first in May - with good luck.
ReplyDeleteJust shows how north I am situated from you.
Is there any time when nothing is in bloom over there? Quite much of such time over here;-
Mette, the only month nothing is in bloom outside here would be December. In January, we have winter honeysuckle blooming; in February some daffodils, flowering quince and witch hazel; in March all the flowering shrubbery and trees; azaleas and many more things in April; and so on throughout the spring and summer. Autumn brings another array of blooming plants, including the mums.
DeleteThere is an area in Eastern California called Daffodil Hill, people gather there from miles around when they are in bloom. It is a little later in the year though. We have quite a few Paperwhites blooming in our yard at the moment.
ReplyDeleteDarla
That must be a beautiful sight to see Darla. I think paperwhites are beautiful, although I don't like them in the house because they don't suit my sense of smell.
DeleteThis is about the time of year that the small town outside of Seattle has the Puyallup Daffodil Festival - which Johnny Carson of the Tonight Show used to feature. He would get great delight making fun of the name Puyallup, mispronouncing it at least twenty different ways. Phew-al-up, the al sounding like the man's name. With the horrible endless grey of Seattle Winter, it was the most amazing relief to see these endless fields of glorious sunshine yellow.
ReplyDeleteWow, I imagine that is a sight to behold, Beryl. I can't say as I recall the Johnny Carson discussion of Puyallup but imagine it was pretty cute. I miss Johnny; have never watched The Tonight Show since he left it.
DeleteTo get the amount of Daffodils shown in the photo the estates will have planted 1000's of bulbs each year they are a glorious sight when en masse on drives and woodland,my favourite sight is the clumps of snowdrops in orchards.
ReplyDeleteThe Daffodils are just showing their tips here,snowdrops 1/2 inch....not long to Spring I hope.
William Wordsworth's poem 'Daffodils' sums it up perfectly.Ida
Oh, I know; it takes so many bulbs to make a big show. But I've found they do multiply, so in about 100 years my yard should be quite a show! Snowdrops aren't so popular around here; not sure why; but they certainly are lovely. I don't have any so must make a mental note to look for the bulbs in the fall.
DeleteI found your blog via Helen Tilston - imagine daffodils in January, my snowdrops are out, but the daffodils are a mere 3 inches high.
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Rosemary! I'm glad you found me and welcome your comments always. I will look forward to visiting your blog as well!
DeleteWow, they are early! We get them straight for Easter, so I've always associated them with Easter breakfast table. Love them unfortunately Rufus loves them even more, no daffodil or tulip is safe in our house because he'll chew their heads off and nibble on the (poisonous) juice coming from the stems :-(((
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice association with daffodils -- the Easter breakfast table. They are long gone here by the time Easter arrives, at least these early varieties. But there are later ones in the season that are in bloom at Easter. I did not realize the juice is poisonous so will make sure I don't allow my kitty Sox near them. She doesn't seem to bother any plant. Difference in cats I suppose.
DeleteBeautiful daffodil pictures. I remember as a child looking for them to emerge from the ground not long after Christmas - it was exciting to see their little green tips coming out of the ground.
ReplyDeleteNow that I grow lots of hosta, another use for them I have found - voles will not eat the hosta roots if daffodils are planted close to the hosta plant. The bulb is poision to them!!