Darling daffodils
We have finally moved back into our spanking-new-old house, after an eight-month sojourn while the house was renovated. A spectacular showing of daffodils seemed to be trumpeting their welcome home — it’s nice to be back.
I treated myself to a bouquet of daffodils as we settled in, cutting just one of each of the varieties in bloom — 10 in all. Why so many different kinds? First, and foremost, I can’t resist, there are so many beautiful varieties available.
The humble daffodil, also known as narcissus, is one of the easiest of the spring bulbs to grow — they are bunny, deer and pest resistant. They willingly naturalize, returning (and sometimes multiplying) year after year with little or no intervention. They only ask for a welldrained site, a little sunshine and to leave their foliage in place until it dies back naturally (usually by June). Daffodils happily grow in containers, flower beds or meadows. They make cheerful, long-lasting bouquets that brighten our kitchen tables and warm our winter weary hearts — who could ask for more?
Let me introduce you to some of my favourite daffodils:
Pink Parasol offers single white petals with a fluted, peach/pink centre. These easy to grow trumpet daffodils (30 cm tall), offer a light sweet fragrance and unusual colouring. They are wonderful additions to spring bouquets; plant them near the pathway or front entrance so that you can enjoy their pretty colours.
Gigantic Star boasts huge flowers with sunny yellow colouring and a gentle vanilla fragrance. The flowers are well formed and appear on sturdy stems. (35 cm tall) Very showy in the garden and as a cut flower.
Bridal Crown features small creamy-white blossoms with saffron yellow cup segments; the flowers are held up high on 35-cm tall stems. It is one of the earliest of the doubles to bloom, with the flowers appearing mid-season here in Niagara, just as the grape hyacinths begin to bloom. With a delightful fragrance and several charming florets per stem, it is easy to see why this unusual narcissus has won numerous awards. Sadly, it has not multiplied over the years in my home garden, but returns year after year. It makes a great cut flower.
Jet Fire is a free flowering, long blooming, multiple award-winning narcissus. Classed as a dwarf narcissus (25 cm tall), it produces cheerful, very showy flowers with vivid yellow, strongly reflexed petals and reddish-orange trumpets; the flowers are lightly scented. This bulb multiplies quickly to form a showy patch of colour. Great as a cut flower or in containers.
Ice Follies is one of the earliest daffodils to bloom in my Niagara garden. Dressed in crisp white petals with a soft yellow trumpet, it is classified as a cupped narcissus; the flattish cup features a delicate ruffled edge. Ice Follies (40 cm tall) is easy to grow, it will happily naturalize and give you loads of colour early in the season. Long lasting as cut flower.
Tête-a-Tête is the classic dwarf narcissus that is sold in little pots early in the season. I can’t resist their tiny yellow faces, a sign spring is just around the corner. With a short stature (15 cm tall) and petite flowers, Tête-a-tête work beautifully in dish gardens, baskets or early containers, but given a chance, they are workhorses in the garden. Plant them out in the garden when they have finished blooming and they will naturalize and return year after year. I tuck them in behind later emerging perennials and then they are out of the way as their diminutive foliage dies back.
Orangerie is a split-corona narcissus, with unusual flowers and a light fragrance. The split section of the cup folds back resembling the spread of a butterflies’ wings, giving rise to the name butterfly daffodil. Orangerie features a showy tangerine
coloured ruffled corona, nestled against six white petals. It reaches 40 cm tall and flowers mid season. An unnamed yellow-on-yellow split-corona daffodil also appears in my back border. Butterfly narcissus are very hardy and have returned year after year for more than 20 years, and are virtually maintenance free.
The catalogues list several varieties, with showy orange split cups and bi-coloured forms.
Mount Hood is a pure white trumpet narcissus with clean, elegant lines. Blooming mid-season, it works beautifully with the violet tones of grape hyacinths and pansies, or paired with early tulips. (35 cm tall)
Jack Snipe blooms just as the early tulips and grape hyacinths appear on the scene. Classified as a dwarf narcissus, Jack Snipe reaches a sizeable 25cm tall with smart looking yellow pointed petals and matte-yellow ruffled trumpets. They are great for naturalizing and spread to form showy clumps. Excellent cut flowers.
Angel’s flute (trumpet narcissus) Is a very pretty daffodil with nice strong stems. Impressive, single stemmed flowers have butter-yellow trumpets, with double ruffled edges, that can be longer than the flower petals. Blooming mid-season, this trumpet narcissus stands 35 cm tall and is very sturdy. It is sweetly scented and makes a beautiful cut flower. They are new to my garden, this is only their second season, but they are so showy, I’m hoping to see more of them as time goes by.
Theresa Forte is an award winning garden columnist, photographer and speaker. You can reach her by calling 905-351-7540 or by email fortegardens@gmail.com
IF TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: Insightful, clever and charming, you create a winner of a year. New financial opportunities appear in May, August and December. Make choices and pursue goals on Fridays, your lucky day each week. CAPRICORN makes their own decisions.
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19)
A former physical complaint manifests itself again, mainly due to stress. You are so brave and you’ve kept it in for so long. But today, find time to take care of yourself. Good news comes your way, in financial form. Tonight: Take it easy.
This Week: Zero in on a new possibility Wednesday or Thursday.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20)
Children are the happy focus of the day. After a few nights of restless sleep, brilliant ideas abound. Fresh personal starts are indicated. Expect to be doing a lot of brainstorming. A creative project will go very well. Tonight: Play more with the children. This Week: You make a difference because of your abilities.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20)
Today finds you redecorating your home. Moods are high, and in keeping with your already expansive way, rather overindulgent. There’s nothing small or petty about the way you decorate, especially not now. You go all out. Tonight: Celebrate with a wonderful dinner.
This Week: Speak your mind and expect to get responses.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22)
You seem to be doing a lot of thinking, talking and local running around. Naturally analytical, you use this period profitably by reexamining plans or ideas and discarding whatever or whomever is no longer valuable. This is particularly advantageous for you writers. Tonight: Early sleep.
This Week: You might be more grounded than most people.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22)
You feel like buying, and could go a bit overboard. Luxury items have a very strong appeal. However, today’s aspects are not good for large-scale spending, as you will most likely have to return what you purchase.
Tonight: Distract yourself with a beloved movie.
This Week: Others will seek you out.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)
Your personal magnetism is high, and you attract the attention of a VIP. But be careful. You get in over your head and conflict may accompany an immense sex appeal. Do not use others, nor let yourself be used.
Tonight: The emphasis continues on you. This Week: You decide to take on certain risks.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22)
Take care of yourself mentally or physically since you could find yourself more rundown than usual. Sleep, meditate and think. You begin to find your thoughts deepened and intensified as you dig for answers with vigorous determination. Tonight: Avoid power struggles with others.
This Week: You bloom midweek. Cheer in summer with friends.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21)
Communication and enthusiasm from others thrill you today. The focus is on friendship and group activities that you follow online. Accept the many invitations that come your way. You feel more popular than you have in some time.
Tonight: Flaunt yourself, Scorpio-style.
This Week: Let others run the show.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21)
Today emphasizes fun and good times, particularly with an elderly relative. Make sure you check in and see that everything is all right. Try not to let minor hassles at the workplace upset your equilibrium. Co-workers seem to be in an uproar. Tonight: Take off.
This Week: Work toward a goal you have envisioned.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN 19)
You seem to have a case of wanderlust today. As you cannot go on a real vacation, take a virtual one. The yearning will also be quenched by browsing through travel books or even just calling a long-distance pal. Tonight: Spend time with a child.
This Week: Focus on what you want.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18)
Joint income improves today, although there may be a few disagreements with your partner along the way. Obtaining loans is favoured, but some might feel unduly pressured to make a financial decision. You need to do your best balancing act. Tonight: Play nice.
This Week: Kick back and think of summer.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20)
A new friendship might be found with a fiery, communicative person. You are likely to share similar outlooks and will learn from each other. Watch out, however, for domestic or romantic discord at home. If attached, your mate is volatile. Tonight: Relax.
This Week: Relate on a one-on-one basis.
BORN TODAY: Photographer Jacob Riis (1849), singer-actor Bing Crosby (1903), singer James Brown (1933)