Actually, the first Daffodils bloom in the Back Garden, which is fairly sunny before the trees leaf out.
But now there are also Daffodils in the Front Garden. These include ‘Sailboat’, which is one of 3 new Daffodils I planted last fall. The others were ‘Hawera’ and ‘Pheasant’s Eye’. ‘Sailboat’ is the first of these 3 to bloom.
These 3 were ordered to interplant with new Tulips that were planted last fall along the edge of the Driveway Border that was torn up by sewer repair. The theory was that they would discourage rabbits from noshing down on the Tulips.
The Tulips have also come up nicely, and I look forward to their blooming with keen anticipation.
‘Sailboat’ is a cute little Narcissus (one of the Jonquil tribe), growing no more than 12″.
The first Daffodils to bloom in the Back Garden were mostly ‘Ice Follies’. We cut quite a few to bring indoors, especially after many of the stems were broken by the late snows.
Pretty sure this is ‘Ceylon’.
‘Mt. Hood’.
I’ve gradually been filling up the Parkway Bed with Daffodils. The bulk of these were received free as mixed bulbs from ColorBlends, for which I am deeply grateful.
Here’s another view of the Parkway Bed.
One downside of bulb mixes is that you don’t know most of the names of the varieties you are growing. This is a rather unusual variety right here, with its bicolor corona.
Honestly, I’m not as interested in knowing the Daffodil varieties as I am in knowing the names of the Tulips that I grow. However, I don’t mention this to the Daffodils, as I don’t want them to feel bad.
And there are some Narcissi that I’m not totally in love with, like the double varieties. But I can’t complain, as that’s what happens when you get a bunch of free mixed bulbs. I would never order a mix of Tulip bulbs – with Tulips, I want to select exactly what I’m going to get.
Don’t get the wrong idea. I do appreciate Daffodils, and I’m really glad to have them blooming right now. Do you know the names of all your Daffodil varieties, and do you have favorites?
Obviously, I don’t know a thing about daffodils. I’ve always thought they were yellow: end of story. But, my goodness. ‘Mt. Hood’ is fabulous, and my favorite. I’m not too sure about ‘Ceylon.’ It reminds me of farm eggs with really dark yolks.
I see what you mean about ‘Ceylon’. But at least they help show that Daffodils are more than just yellow.
I do have two favorites, but I don’t know what varieties are out there. I planted only a few of them. I don’t know where the others came from. It is better that way, since other people’s favorites are more interesting than mine are.
Oh, don’t be so modest.
‘King Alfred’ and ‘Mount Hood’ are my favorites. We could use more pizzazz than just those two.
While I am not a tulip fan, I do love daffodils! I have Tete-aTete, Ice Follies, and some Original Poet’s that just opened today in the rain. Not many, but I have my eye on a few new varieties for fall! One has a red cup. Original Poet’s was so late I had contacted the vendor and told them they sent me the wrong bulbs!
I’m growing Poet’s for the first time this year. There are lots at Lurie Garden.
Lovely ro see someone else who has Sailboat in their garden, it is a super little daffodil isn’t it! Another favourite is Pipit, a late flowering one which has a fantastic perfume and for naturalising in my woodland you can’t beat Narcissus pseudonarcissus, the seed is spreading nicely, this is the one that Wordsworth saw dancing in the breeze in the Lake District here in the UK. All mine are over now till next year!
Didn’t know about ‘Pipit’, I’ll have to check that out.
The jonquil types are my favourite, specially Sailboat.
I have long forgotten all the names of my daffodils! But I know all my tulips. 😉 I love Hawera and any tall yellow ones, although they get flattened by the wind here.
That is a problem with the tall ones. Daffodil stems are not very strong, usually.
I don’t know the names of any of my daffodils but they become like old friends over the years and some types, like the strange doubles, that I disliked at the start are know in my good books. Amelia
Interesting. Perhaps I will grow to like them as well.
After many many bulbs and years of disappointing performance, I found two winners: the diminutive Tete a Tete, and the handsomely fragrant Avalanche. I’m impressed that you are able to get both Daffs and Tulips to bloom together: it looks so good!
Not familiar with ‘Avalanche’ though I do have some ‘Tete a Tete’ stuck away in a corner. Species tulips can be very early bloomers which makes it easier to pair them with Daffs.
Beautiful. You have such a great display of Spring flowers. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome!
Yes, you want to be sure not to hurt the feelings of your daffodils. You don’t want them sulking and now putting up many blooms. 🙂
That’s what I’m thinking. They can be quite temperamental.
I am in awe of Mt. Hood. The photo with both tulip and daffodil is true garden showmanship! I have two types of daffodils but all I know about them is they don’t bloom much; I do enjoy the blooms I get, though. As for tulips, I love them in someone else’s garden.
I too have long, and short, forgotten the names of my daffodils. Most are long gone now. I call all of them pretty.
By any other name.
I love the way daffodils proclaim “spring, spring, spring!” As far as I’m concerned, there are no bad daffs. Wish I could say I have them in my garden, but I don’t. Somehow, I got out of the habit of planting bulbs in the fall.
Never too late … Daffs are more critter resistant and shade-tolerant than Tulips.
Someday, maybe. Always so busy in the fall with books and fairs. But this year, probably not. Might be a good time to plant some bulbs.
No, I don’t know that names of my Daffodils, because, like yours, most of them were free from that Colorblends mix. I love it! I wouldn’t care about Tulip names either. I absolutely cannot grow Tulips here…unless they’re in pots! Yay, the rabbits can’t get to them! Finally, I’m having some success with them in pots. Your parkway bed of mixed plants looks amazing!
Glad you are having success with tulips in pots. Funny, after mine were a bust last year I didn’t plant any for this spring – though I planted plenty in the borders.
Lovely to see your daffs, particularly as ours are a distant memory. My favourites are ‘Jenny’, ‘Peeping Jenny’ and ‘Mount Hood’. But I can fall in love at the blink of an eye.(And, actually, I do only buy named Narcissus too, but mostly because it’s hard to get the large mixed bags around here!)
So we share ‘Mount Hood’! It’s a good one. I tend to fall in love with newly discovered varieties of tulips, but not daffodils so much.
I am always liable to fall in love – but probably with tulips more!
Ahhh, I like your little double ones. It’s just wonderful seeing your spring burst forth, the passers by must be chuffed!xxx
I think the daffs are pretty popular with people strolling by.
Nice to see them!
Yes it is!
Lovely to see your daffodils flowering already, and especially nice for passers-by to see them. I like daffodils, but as you have said, tulips are really special, to me they are the Rolls Royce of all bulbs. I plant tulips around our letterbox, so that people going for a walk can admire them, and they never disappoint.
I think the colors of tulips are richer and more varied, and the shape is more elegant.
Yes, I agree!
I, like others here, have long forgotten most of my daff’s names. You have a lovely assortment! I’ve wanted some pheasant’s eye for the longest time, but am unwilling to pay the price. Really ought to give in…
I love tulips and daffs equally cuz they’re just so different. Each add something unique to the garden. Planted some ‘baby moon’ daffs in the rock garden last fall. They are sweet and diminutive. And love all the species tulips! Your garden is most cheerful and I do enjoy your posts!
Thank you! Things are looking good now with lots of daffs in bloom and the tulips starting to show theire stuff.
The daffodils and tulips sing spring, freshness, renewal, revitalization. Lovely. Your parkway must produce smiles in passersby.
Spring would not be the same without these bulbs, that’s certain.
Hi Jason and I love seeing all of these different daffodils .. I am a huge fan of daffs because you can really count on them each Spring. I have them planted around the edge of my raised garden in the front . Unfortunately I had the pathway stones readjusted and lost some so now the line has been broken with some gaps with bulbs being destroyed .. but I will amend that come this Fall. You have reminded me how many more varieties there are though (I use Dutch Master as a staple) .. so I think I will be a bit more adventurous for my next orders .. they just make me smile no matter what kind they are 😉
You are right that daffs are very reliable – and very cheerful!
I try to remember the names of my plants if only because I’m a sucker for a plant with a fun name. I have quite a few in my garden that I chose over others because I thought they sounded fun or poetic. I’ve got a collection of daffodils that I’ve managed to (kind of) track. They’re so fun and cheery.
I also have fun with the names of plants, especially variety names – though some are just awful!
I’m following with interest people’s favorites because I intend to go all out planting bulbs this fall. Yours are an inspiration!
Bulbs are so great – have fun with them!
You have an impressive collection of daffodils.
Thank you!