Thursday, May 2, 2013

What's in a Name




A Daffodil by any other name is still a Daffodil



All Daffodils belong to the genus Narcissus.





In some areas Daffodils are  known as Jonquils.





Narcissus Jonquilla, from the Greek. 
Narcissus, was smitten by his own reflection in a pool of water,
and after dying of unrequited love, the gods turned him into a flower as beautiful as he had been. 





If there were no Daffodils, winter would be much too long.  





Once planted,  Daffodils should not be divided and their foliage not cut until the leaves turn yellow (mid June to early July).  They need full sunlight to supply them with enough energy for next year's display.  




In a vase do not mix Daffodils with other flowers. 





Chemicals in their sap prevent other flowers from taking up water. 




 A Fall application of slow release potassium-rich fertilizer
(10:10:20) will do wonders.  





Most animals will not bother them,  Daffodils are poisonous.  


Have a great weekend my dear 
Blogging Friends.

 Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate your visits.  

 Gina 









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33 comments:

  1. valerietilsten59.blogspot.comMay 2, 2013 at 6:44 AM

    Dear Gina,
    What a lovely beautiful post. How I love daffodils ..and i dont have many in my garden. I will be planting more for next year.
    I so agree.. a garden is not the same without them.
    Your photos are stunning.. so romantic.
    I learnt a little about them with this post.
    Didnt know you shouldnt split them...
    Happy thursday..
    xxxx val

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    Replies
    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 6:45 AM

      Dear Val, It is only suggested that you don't split them so that they become naturalized. Daffodils always look so pretty when they appear to be planted by mother nature. I remember lovely scenes in Whales where green meadows, newly born lambs and large patches of Daffodils made for a postcard setting. ox, Gina

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  2. GinaMay 2, 2013 at 7:35 AM

    Dear Val, What I love about Daffodils (besides their beauty) is that animals do not eat their bulbs during the winter months. Unlike Tulips, which get eaten every year, at our place. Daffodils naturalize beautifully and are so lovely to see in early Spring. You can split Daffodils but they look more beautiful when clumped together.
    ox, Gina

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  3. Marie-AnneMay 2, 2013 at 7:54 AM

    I love Narcissi, as we obviously call them in Greece, and I have many in my garden! What I did not know is that you should not put them in the vase with other flowers! Thanks for this info!!! I learn so many things in your blog!!! My garden is also so beautiful at this time of the year. Come and have a look ! We will celebrate our Greek Orthodox Easter this coming Sunday and I have just finished preparing my red eggs!!!!
    I wish you a very happy month of May!!!!
    xxx Marie-Anne

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    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 6:49 AM

      Dear Marie-Anne, If you condition your Daffodils by placing them in cool water overnight, then you can change the water and add other flowers. Daffodils do look wonderful when paired with other flowers. You do have a beautiful garden and I look forward to seeing your photographs after your Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations. ox, Gina

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  4. Mark D. RuffnerMay 2, 2013 at 9:52 AM

    Dear Gina, That's so interesting about not mixing daffodils with other flowers, and that they are poisonous! Are there any flowers that you ever mix into your salads? Or serve as an edible garnish?

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    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 7:01 AM

      Dear Mark, I know that fancy restaurants and well-known chefs love to use flowers and/or their leaves as garnish. I can't bring myself to eat them. I feel as if I have to apologize to them. So many flowers are edible, nasturtiums, snapdragons, violets, calendula, borage, sweet woodruff, safflower, rose of sharon, red clover, linden, lavender, johny-jump-ups, hibiscus, elderberry flower, dianthus, chrysanthemus, bee balm and so many, many more.

      Delete
    2. Mark D. RuffnerMay 3, 2013 at 11:33 AM

      I know how you feel — we think nothing of eating a lettuce leaf, but somehow eating a violet is different.

      Delete
    3. GinaMay 4, 2013 at 8:29 AM

      Exactly, have a great weekend Mark. Gina

      Delete
  5. Gardening in a SandboxMay 2, 2013 at 12:39 PM

    Lovely by any of those terms. Valerie

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    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 7:02 AM

      Hello valerie, thank you for stopping by. It is so appreciated. Have a wonderful remainder of the week.

      Delete
  6. podsoMay 2, 2013 at 1:58 PM

    Wonderful daffodil images and such interesting things you say about them.

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    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 7:03 AM

      Hello Podso, thank you for your visit. And thank you also for your very nice compliment. Flowers, all flowers are so interesting, aren't they.

      Delete
  7. A Garden of ThreadsMay 2, 2013 at 3:24 PM

    I planted around 50 daffodils when we moved into this house and most of them are now gone:( It is getting to shady. I love the round photo.

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    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 7:07 AM

      Hello Garden of Threads. Daffodils don't mind the shade if the soil is rich. They may decline after a few years if they don't get enough sun. The most important thing to remember is not to cut or braid their leaves after they stop blooming. You must wait until the leaves have yellowed. That is the sign that they have stopped taking on nutrients and they will stay dormant until the next Spring.

      Delete
  8. LorrieMay 2, 2013 at 4:42 PM

    Daffodils are so cheerful and beautiful - a much needed bright shot of color after the winter. Lovely shots.

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    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 7:08 AM

      Dear Lorrie, what you say is so true. Thank you for your lovely compliment and please have a wonderful remainder of the week.

      Delete
  9. FrancesMay 2, 2013 at 5:25 PM

    Aren't daffs wonderful! Their ability to naturalize and multiply is but one of their assets. Their varied beauty is rather fantastic, as are your photos accompanying this post, Gina.

    xo

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    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 7:14 AM

      Dear Frances, Yes, Daffodils are wonderful. So lucky for me that our little field critters don't like them, unlike my tulips which they live on during winter months. My Daffodil patch is getting bigger every year and more beautiful every year. All I have to do is stand back and admire. Those are the times when gardening is not a chore. ox, Gina

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  10. Dahling1May 2, 2013 at 8:16 PM

    Dear Gina, what an artful display of daffodils with so many different names watched over by a chubby cherub.
    All of them are so pretty but I like especially Holland Sensation, Beersheba and Pistachio. You always have the most varied selection of any flower photographed so beautifully.Greetings, Sieglinde

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    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 7:20 AM

      Dear Sieglinde, One of the things I love about Daffodils is that they stay true. Unlike Tulips which will eventually go back to their natural colors, red and yellow. For some reason my favorite is Katie Heath. But then I like all the others, as well. When it comes to flowers it is hard for me to pick favorites...I love them all. ox, Gina

      Delete
  11. Theresa CheekMay 3, 2013 at 6:58 AM

    I always love your photos and learn something new each time I read your blog. I had no idea about their sap preventing other cut flowers from drinking!

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    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 7:34 AM

      Dear Theresa, The background (Putti) for my Daffodil collection is a sample board I painted for a ceiling installation. Just goes to show you not to throw anything away...it might come in handy down the road. If you leave newly cut Daffodils in water overnight they stop leaking sticky sap and you can then mix them in a bouquet with other flowers. After all, Daffodils bring just the right shade of yellow to a beautiful arrangement of Spring flowers. ox, Gina

      Delete
  12. RosemaryMay 3, 2013 at 7:13 AM

    There is such a lovely variety of daffodils, and I, like you, enjoy them when they are naturalised. We have lots poking up in the lawns which makes a perfect green foil for them.
    Good tip about them poisoning other flowers in a vase, just came a little bit too late for me, but I shall remember for the future - thank you Gina.

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    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 7:39 AM

      Dear Rosemary, I grow all of my Daffodils in a large patch. That way I can let the leaves age so that they will bloom again next year. We cut the patch late June/early July. It looks a bit anemic for a few days but then greens up and no one is the wiser. Yes, lawns make the perfect green foil for Daffodils.
      Next time place your newly cut Daffodils in water overnight. They do stop leaking their sticky sap after a while and you can mix them with other flowers. ox, Gina

      Delete
  13. martinealisonMay 3, 2013 at 10:33 AM

    Une très jolie publication...
    Vos photos sont merveilleuses.
    J'ai grandi au Chambon sur Lignon et chaque année au printemps il y a la fête des jonquilles sauvages. Des chars et les voitures sont alors couverts de fleurs.
    Gros bisous

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    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 4:05 PM

      Hello Martinelalison, How wonderful it would be to visit Chambon sur Lignon in the Springtime and enjoy your Daffodil festival. It must be quite a sight to see all of the vehicles covered with Jonquils. Thank you so much for your visit and thank you also for your lovely compliments.
      Gros bisous, oxoxoxox, Gina

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  14. Shane PollardMay 3, 2013 at 3:02 PM

    Hello Gina
    These are wonderful images of Spring.
    I wonder if I can source "Holland Sensation" here - I'm very taken with it!
    Also Pheasant Eye - you have a great collection and they look superb in your vase.
    Shane ♥

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    1. GinaMay 3, 2013 at 3:43 PM

      Hello Shane, You should not have any trouble finding the Daffodils which I have pictured. A good place to begin is the American Daffodil Society http://www.daffodilusa.com
      They will provide you with links to bulb sources. Thank you for your visit and lovely compliment. Gina

      Delete
  15. UnknownMay 4, 2013 at 12:32 AM

    I love daffodils and they're all gorgeous!

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    1. GinaMay 4, 2013 at 8:31 AM

      Hello Gunilla, Thank you for your visit. No wonder many people love Daffodils. They are so easy to grow and give us so much pleasure, year after year. Gina

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  16. Ingmarie WeMay 5, 2013 at 1:20 AM

    What a beautiful photo of lovely daffodils. Interesting backgrounds/groupings. Have a nice day

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    1. GinaMay 6, 2013 at 6:44 AM

      Hello Ingmarie, I have been enjoying your beautiful flower photography. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. It is so appreciated. Gina

      Delete