The Joys of Daffodil Season
I recently read that there are more than 28,000 documented varieties of daffodils. Rather than intimidating me, this statistic sets my mind at ease as a gardener. The breadth of knowledge that sits within this fact alone makes me feel content for all that I do not yet know. In fact, my interest in growing only deepens as I find comfort in knowing that I’ve pursued a passion that will provide me with a lifetime of learning. And it is here that once again gardening becomes synonymous with life: being content with the acknowledgement that there is much we do not know, yet remaining eager to continuously learn and engage.
My love for daffodils began when I was a girl and began noticing their surprise appearance as an indication of the changing season of springtime. I can still picture their blooms popping up along the edge of our second driveaway that led up to the field on our property. This variety of my childhood is one that I’ve yet to find elsewhere. And with my recent discovery that so many varieties exist, I’ve come to accept that it may take quite a bit of time for me to ever properly identify them.
As an adult I find the Narcissus genus of flowers one that embodies innocence. They were one of the first flowers that were readily available for me to access and to enjoy in bouquets, and without cost. And their wild nature provided an abundance of supply that only required a walk outside, preferably to me, barefoot. The strength of their strong fragrance is fresh and serves as a reminder of new life breathing into our world. In fact, I would classify this sweet scent as one that is most nostalgic to me.
So it was not with hesitation that I eagerly planned to turn the front of our property into a place that will be filled with daffodils in time. And so, during our first September Upstate, my husband and I planted our first 500 bulbs while I was nearly six months pregnant and while our daughter napped upstairs. The blooms the following April were breathtaking.
My vision as I’ve said to anyone who asks is that I aspire to create one of those places where people go out of their way to slowly pass by and admire the beauty of their thriving blooms. We plant our bulbs right in the grass, first along points of interest and eventually filling in the open yard that remains. And now one of my favorite memories at our home is watching my daughter (and soon my son) carefully tiptoe through them to smell their fragrance or to inspect each plant to predict where we’ll find our first bloom.
More so than creating a view for passersby, my goal with our plantings (and this goes for all gardening and landscaping) is to instill a sense of wonder and enchantment with the natural world for our children. For me, this country lifestyle that we’ve embraced is about each of us engaging with everything living around us, a core earmark of Arcadian Revival living. And as a creative and lover of learning, adding additional bulbs and new varieties as the years pass is something that I look forward to bringing me much joy.