Here come the spring Daffodils in our garden!
Daffodils are a part of the genus Narcissus. The flowers are shaped like a star with a trumpet-shaped corona in the center. The color of the corona often stands out against the star-shaped background of petals which makes them a striking flower and one of the more popular garden variety flowers. The picture below was taken in a natural field of Daffodils at Creekside Dahlia Farm in 2006. This field has probably been in existence for well over 100 years based on the type and number of plants.
Daffodils are starting to come up up in our garden beds
Daffodils are often the first sign of spring as they emerge before most other common garden bulbs. With over 50 species and more than 13,000 documented hybrids they can be found all over the world but prefer a moderate climate and are native to the Mediterranean. To the left you can see a picture I took earlier this week of the shoots starting to emerge in the bed in front of our house.
Daffodils are perennials which often grow in large clusters from bulbs. They prefer a location with plenty of sun and soil that is slightly acidic. If the bulbs are planted too shallow then the bulb clumps will not develop the strength and size they will need to effectively support the stem and flower for extended periods of time. The flowers will bloom in large multiples which deprive the bulb from developing as it should and ultimately result in the stem drooping from the weight of the flowers. As a general rule you want to plant the bulbs two times the depth of the overall length of the bulb. In soil which does not provide much support the depth will need to be increased.
Field of daffodils at Creekside Dahlia Farm
Remember that Daffodils need lots of water while they are growing and fertilizer which is high in nitrogen should not be used. Because Daffodils need to be planted in well drained soil a covering of mulch is recommended to retain moisture. In early June the plant will begin to yellow which is the signal for you to dig, wash, and store the bulbs in a cool dry location.
To the right you can see another picture of the natural field of Daffodils which exists on our property at Creekside Dahlia Farm. It is just one of the many natural beauties we get to enjoy every year.
If you should decide to order plants, flowers, or really any gardening products we hope you will consider using Nature Hills Nursery. They are a family owned business in Omaha, NE which prides itself on customer satisfaction and they have as large of a selection of live plants and garden supplies that you will find available on the internet.
Electric Feeder, 8 port by Wild Bills
From: The Bird Shed
